The influence of amoeba metal homeostasis on antifungal activity against Cryptococcus gattii.

ABSTRACT: Free-living amoebas are natural predators of fungi, including human pathogens of the Cryptococcus genus. To survive and proliferate inside phagocytes, cryptococcal cells must acquire several nutrients. Zinc is fundamental for all life forms and develops a crucial role in the virulence of fungal pathogens, phagocytes reduce the availability of this metal to reduce the development of infection. The Acanthamoeba castellanii ACA1_271600 gene codes a metal transporter that is possibly associated with such antifungal strategy. Here, we evaluated the impact of A. castellanii metal homeostasis on C. gattii survival. Gene silencing of ACA1_271600 was performed and the interaction outcome of amoeba cells with both WT and zinc homeostasis-impaired mutant cryptococcal cells was evaluated. Decreased le

SUBMITTER: Joao MED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11290705 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature