Active Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan production prevents elimination of cryptococcal CNS infection in vivo.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in individuals with AIDS. Cn's polysaccharide capsule is mainly composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and plays a key role in the dysregulation of immunity, resistance to antifungal drugs, and systemic dissemination, including CNS invasion. Although recent studies have begun to elucidate the involvement of microglia in cryptococcosis, our knowledge of these CNS resident phagocytes in the control of cryptococcosis is limited.

Methods

We investigated microglial responses to Cn infection and the effect of active capsular production by comparing wild-type H99 and acapsular mutant cap59 strains using the CX3CR1-EGFP transgenic mouse and a stereotaxic intracerebral infection model.

Results

M

SUBMITTER: Enriquez V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11877788 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature