TY - JOUR
T1 - Cryptococcus neoformans responds to mannitol by increasing capsule size in vitro and in vivo
AU - Guimarães, Allan Jefferson
AU - Frases, Susana
AU - Cordero, Radamés J.B.
AU - Nimrichter, Leonardo
AU - Casadevall, Arturo
AU - Nosanchuk, Joshua D.
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - The polysaccharide capsule of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is its main virulence factor. In this study, we determined the effects of mannitol and glucose on the capsule and exopolysaccharide production. Growth in mannitol significantly increased capsular volume compared with cultivation in glucose. However, cells grown in glucose concentrations higher than 62.5 mM produced more exopolysaccharide than cells grown in mannitol. The fibre lengths and glycosyl composition of capsular polysaccharide from yeast grown in mannitol was structurally different from that of yeast grown in glucose. Furthermore, mannitol treatment of mice infected intratracheally with C. neoformans resulted in fungal cells with significantly larger capsules and the mice had reduced fungal dissemination to the brain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of carbohydrate source and concentration to modify the expression of amajor virulence factor of C. neoformans. These findings may impact the clinical management of cryptococcosis.
AB - The polysaccharide capsule of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is its main virulence factor. In this study, we determined the effects of mannitol and glucose on the capsule and exopolysaccharide production. Growth in mannitol significantly increased capsular volume compared with cultivation in glucose. However, cells grown in glucose concentrations higher than 62.5 mM produced more exopolysaccharide than cells grown in mannitol. The fibre lengths and glycosyl composition of capsular polysaccharide from yeast grown in mannitol was structurally different from that of yeast grown in glucose. Furthermore, mannitol treatment of mice infected intratracheally with C. neoformans resulted in fungal cells with significantly larger capsules and the mice had reduced fungal dissemination to the brain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of carbohydrate source and concentration to modify the expression of amajor virulence factor of C. neoformans. These findings may impact the clinical management of cryptococcosis.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01430.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01430.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 20070311
AN - SCOPUS:77954179303
SN - 1462-5814
VL - 12
SP - 740
EP - 753
JO - Cellular Microbiology
JF - Cellular Microbiology
IS - 6
ER -