Elucidating the Pathogenesis of Spores from the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

• Published in: Infection and Immunity Vol. 77; no. 8; pp. 3491 - 3500
• Main Authors: Giles, Steven S, Dagenais, Taylor R.T, Botts, Michael R, Keller, Nancy P, Hull, Christina M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.08.2009; American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Subjects: Animals; beta-glucans; beta-Glucans - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; breathing; CD11b Antigen; CD11b Antigen - metabolism; Cryptococcus neoformans; Cryptococcus neoformans - pathogenicity; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal and Parasitic Infections; fungal spores; fungi; Host-Pathogen Interactions; humans; immunology; Lectins, C-Type; macrophage activation; macrophages; Macrophages, Alveolar; Macrophages, Alveolar - immunology; Macrophages, Alveolar - microbiology; Membrane Proteins; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred A; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Microbial Viability; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mycology; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide - immunology; pathogenesis; pathogenicity; pathogens; Phagocytosis; Protein Binding; receptors; Spores, Fungal; Spores, Fungal - pathogenicity; Fungi; Human; Yeast; Cryptococcus neoformans; Microbiology; Pathogenesis; Fungi Imperfecti; Immunity; Spores

Cryptococcus neoformans was first described as a human fungal pathogen more than a century ago. One aspect of the C. neoformans infectious life cycle that has been the subject of earnest debate is whether the spores are pathogenic. Despite much speculation, no direct evidence has been presented to r...