Identification and characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans protein fractions that induce protective immune responses.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans, the main causative agent of cryptococcosis, is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. To date, there is no vaccine or immunotherapy approved to treat cryptococcosis. Cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses collaborate to mediate optimal protection against C. neoformans infections. Accordingly, we identified cryptococcal protein fractions capable of stimulating cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses and determined their efficacy to elicit protection against cryptococcosis. Proteins were extracted from C. neoformans and fractionated based on molecular mass. The fractions were then evaluated by immunoblot analysis for reactivity to serum extracted from protectively immunized mice and in cytokine rec

SUBMITTER: Chaturvedi AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3916089 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature