Effect of Rapamycin on Cryptococcus Neoformans : Cellular Organization, Biophysics and Virulence Factors

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes infections mainly in immunosuppressed individuals, such as transplant recipients. Aims: This study investigated the effects of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, on the cellular organization, biophysical character...

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Published in:Future microbiology 2023-11, Vol.18 (15), p.1061-1075
Main Authors: de Andrade, Iara Bastos, Alves, Vinicius, Pereira, Luiza, Miranda, Bruna, Corrêa-Junior, Dario, Galdino Figueiredo-Carvalho, Maria Helena, Santos, Marcos Vinicius, Almeida-Paes, Rodrigo, Frases, Susana
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes infections mainly in immunosuppressed individuals, such as transplant recipients. Aims: This study investigated the effects of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, on the cellular organization, biophysical characteristics, and main virulence factors of C. neoformans. Methods: Morphological, structural, physicochemical and biophysical analyses of cells and secreted polysaccharides of the reference H99 C. neoformans strain were investigated under the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of rapamycin. Results: Rapamycin at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.5 μM reduced C. neoformans cell viability by 53%, decreased capsule, increased cell size, chitin and lipid body formation, and changed peptidase and urease activity. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to assess how rapamycin affects the virulence factors and pathogenicity of C. neoformans.
ISSN:1746-0913
1746-0921
DOI:10.2217/fmb-2023-0097