Glucuronoxylomannan intranasal challenge prior to Cryptococcus neoformans pulmonary infection enhances cerebral cryptococcosis in rodents.

ABSTRACT: The encapsulated fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal meningitis, with the highest rate of disease in patients with AIDS or immunosuppression. This microbe enters the human body via inhalation of infectious particles. C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide, in which the major component is glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), extensively accumulates in tissues and compromises host immune responses. C. neoformans travels from the lungs to the bloodstream and crosses to the brain via transcytosis, paracytosis, or inside of phagocytes using a "Trojan horse" mechanism. The fungus causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis with high mortality rates. Hence, we investigated the impact of intranasal exogenous GXM administration on C. neoformans infection in C57BL/6 mice. GXM enha

SUBMITTER: Lee HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10171644 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature