Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism, Cryptococcus neoformans, vaccine deficient in chitosan.

ABSTRACT: The global burden of infections due to the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus is substantial in persons with low CD4⁺ T-cell counts. Previously, we deleted three chitin deacetylase genes from Cryptococcus neoformans to create a chitosan-deficient, avirulent strain, designated as cda1∆2∆3∆, which, when used as a vaccine, protected mice from challenge with virulent C. neoformans strain KN99. Here, we explored the immunological basis for protection. Vaccine-mediated protection was maintained in mice lacking B cells or CD8⁺ T cells. In contrast, protection was lost in mice lacking α/β T cells or CD4⁺ T cells. Moreover, CD4⁺ T cells from vaccinated mice conferred protection upon adoptive transfer to naive mice. Importantly, whi

SUBMITTER: Specht CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11323574 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature