Titan cell production in <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> reshapes the cell wall and capsule composition during infection.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen that often causes infections in immunocompromised individuals. Upon inhalation into the lungs C. neoformans differentiates into cells with altered size and morphology, including production of large titan cells. Titan cells possess thickened cell wall and dense, cross-linked capsule when compared to in vitro grown cells. In addition, titan cells have increased cell wall chitin that is associated with a detrimental anti-inflammatory immune response. Here we examined the cell wall and capsule composition of in vitro, in vivo typical-sized and in vivo titan cells using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The monomer composition of cell wall polysaccharides showed that in vivo C. neoforman

SUBMITTER: Mukaremera L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6095662 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature