Cryptococcus neoformans Δsgl1 Vaccination Requires Either CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T Cells for Complete Host Protection.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen causing life-threatening meningoencephalitis in susceptible individuals. Fungal vaccine development has been hampered by the fact that cryptococcosis occurs during immunodeficiency. We previously reported that a C. neoformans mutant (Δsgl1) accumulating sterylglucosides (SGs) is avirulent and provides complete protection to WT challenge, even under CD4⁺ T cell depletion, an immunodeficient condition commonly associated with cryptococcosis. We found high levels of SGs in the lungs post-immunization with Δsgl1 that decreased upon fungal clearance. Th1 cytokines increased whereas Th2 cytokines concurrently decreased, coinciding with a large recruitment of leukocytes to the lungs. Depletion of B or CD8⁺

SUBMITTER: Normile TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8455912 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature