Cryptococcus neoformans capsular enlargement and cellular gigantism during Galleria mellonella infection

We have studied infection of Cryptococcus neoformans in the non-vertebrate host Galleria mellonella with particular interest in the morphological response of the yeast. Inoculation of C. neoformans in caterpillars induced a capsule-independent increase in haemocyte density 2 h after infection. C. ne...

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Veröffentlicht in:PloS one 2011-09, Vol.6 (9), p.e24485-e24485
Hauptverfasser: García-Rodas, Rocío, Casadevall, Arturo, Rodríguez-Tudela, Juan Luís, Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel, Zaragoza, Oscar
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We have studied infection of Cryptococcus neoformans in the non-vertebrate host Galleria mellonella with particular interest in the morphological response of the yeast. Inoculation of C. neoformans in caterpillars induced a capsule-independent increase in haemocyte density 2 h after infection. C. neoformans manifested a significant increase in capsule size after inoculation into the caterpillar. The magnitude of capsule increase depended on the temperature, being more pronounced at 37°C than at 30°C, which correlated with an increased virulence of the fungus and reduced phagocytosis at 37°C. Capsule enlargement impaired phagocytosis by haemocytes. Incubation of the yeast in G. mellonella extracts also resulted in capsule enlargement, with the polar lipidic fraction having a prominent role in this effect. During infection, the capsule decreased in permeability. A low proportion of the cells (
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0024485