Characterizing in vitro spherule morphogenesis of multiple strains of both species of Coccidioides.

ABSTRACT: The disease San Joaquin Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) is caused by the inhalation of Coccidioides arthroconidia. In vivo, arthroconidia transform into pathogenic structures termed spherules. Exposure to the host milieu triggers spherule development; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the morphological shift are not well characterized. This study compared the morphogenesis of five strains of both species of Coccidioides in two media types to improve the in vitro model of dimorphism that can be easily reproduced, and is amenable to tissue culture. We also sought to establish a modern record of the morphological switch among commonly used lab strains through a detailed account of growth under various conditions. Spherules from five strains were grown in standard (Converse)

SUBMITTER: Mead HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6506604 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature