Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Galectin-3 impacts Cryptococcus neoformans infection through direct antifungal effects.


ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian ?-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental infections, as well as in spleen, lung, and brain tissues of infected mice. Gal-3-deficient mice are more susceptible to cryptococcosis than WT animals, as demonstrated by the higher fungal burden and lower animal survival. In vitro experiments show that Gal-3 inhibits fungal growth and exerts a direct lytic effect on C. neoformans extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our results indicate a direct role for Gal-3 in antifungal immunity whereby this molecule affects the outcome of C. neoformans infection by inhibiting fungal growth and reducing EV stability, which in turn could benefit the host.

SUBMITTER: Almeida F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5719036 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications


Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental inf  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC5368277 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3024982 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8245489 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5422485 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5328578 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC4645398 | biostudies-other
2023-12-31 | GSE248987 | GEO
| S-EPMC7137767 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5527588 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4649209 | biostudies-literature