Blood vessel occlusion by Cryptococcus neoformans is a mechanism for haemorrhagic dissemination of infection.

ABSTRACT: Meningitis caused by infectious pathogens is associated with vessel damage and infarct formation, however the physiological cause is often unknown. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen and causative agent of cryptococcal meningitis, where vascular events are observed in up to 30% of patients, predominantly in severe infection. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how infection may lead to vessel damage and associated pathogen dissemination using a zebrafish model that permitted noninvasive in vivo imaging. We find that cryptococcal cells become trapped within the vasculature (dependent on their size) and proliferate there resulting in vasodilation. Localised cryptococcal growth, originating from a small number of cryptococcal cells in the vasculature was associated with sites o

SUBMITTER: Gibson JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9022829 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature