Identification of a protective antigen reveals the trade-off between iron acquisition and antigen exposure in a global fungal pathogen.

ABSTRACT: Systemic infections caused by Cryptococcus claim over 161,000 lives annually, with global mortality rate close to 70% despite antifungal therapies. Currently, no vaccine is available. To develop an effective multivalent vaccine against this free-living opportunistic eukaryotic pathogen, it is critical to identify protective antigens. We previously discovered ZNF2^oe strains elicit protective host immune responses and increase the abundance of antigens present in the capsule, which is required for its immunoprotection. Capsule is a defining feature of Cryptococcus species and composed of polysaccharides and mannoproteins. Here, we found increased levels of exposed mannoproteins in ZNF2^oe cells. As mannoproteins are the primary components reco

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11848283 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature