Open AccessCryptococcus neoformans responds to mannitol by increasing capsule size in vitro and in vivo
Author(s) -
Guimarães Allan Jefferson,
Frases Susana,
Cordero Radamés J. B.,
Nimrichter Leonardo,
Casadevall Arturo,
Nosanchuk Joshua D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01430.x
Subject(s) - cryptococcus neoformans , mannitol , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cryptococcus , virulence factor , cryptococcosis , in vivo , capsule , yeast , in vitro , virulence , polysaccharide , biochemistry , botany , gene
Summary The polysaccharide capsule of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is its main virulence factor. In this study, we determined the effects of mannitol and glucose on the capsule and exopolysaccharide production. Growth in mannitol significantly increased capsular volume compared with cultivation in glucose. However, cells grown in glucose concentrations higher than 62.5 mM produced more exopolysaccharide than cells grown in mannitol. The fibre lengths and glycosyl composition of capsular polysaccharide from yeast grown in mannitol was structurally different from that of yeast grown in glucose. Furthermore, mannitol treatment of mice infected intratracheally with C. neoformans resulted in fungal cells with significantly larger capsules and the mice had reduced fungal dissemination to the brain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of carbohydrate source and concentration to modify the expression of a major virulence factor of C. neoformans. These findings may impact the clinical management of cryptococcosis.