Comparative analysis of pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A, D and AD in murine cryptococcosis

To characterize the pathogenicity of 15 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans belonging to several serotype/mating type allele patterns (Dα, Da, Aα, Aa, Aα/Da and Dα/Aa) in experimental models of murine cryptococcosis. CD1-infected mice were examined for survival and fungal loads in either brain or lun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infection 2005-07, Vol.51 (1), p.10-16
Main Authors: Barchiesi, F., Cogliati, M., Esposto, M.C., Spreghini, E., Schimizzi, A.M., Wickes, B.L., Scalise, G., Viviani, M.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Blastomycoses and paracoccidioidomycosis
Cryptococcosis - microbiology
Cryptococcosis - mortality
Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus neoformans - classification
Cryptococcus neoformans - pathogenicity
Diploid
Haploid
Human mycoses
Hybrid
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Mice
Miscellaneous mycoses
Mycoses
Serotype
Serotyping
Tropical mycoses
Virulence
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Summary:To characterize the pathogenicity of 15 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans belonging to several serotype/mating type allele patterns (Dα, Da, Aα, Aa, Aα/Da and Dα/Aa) in experimental models of murine cryptococcosis. CD1-infected mice were examined for survival and fungal loads in either brain or lung during the course of infection. All strains, with the exception of one Da strain, produced melanin in vitro. Similarly, all strains were encapsulated and produced phospholipase. When CD1 mice were challenged intravenously (i.v.) with 5×105CFU/mouse and observed for 60 days post-infection, a significant variation of mortality rate was observed among mice infected with different strains. Aα and Aα/Da strains all produced 100% mortality within the study period with mean survivals significantly shorter than those of mice infected with strains belonging to any other allele type (P1log10 increase of CFU/g in both tissues throughout the study period. Our results suggest that the presence of the Aα mating type allele in either haploid or diploid strains is correlated with virulence, while the presence of the Aa or Da allele in haploid strains is associated with moderate or no virulence. Finally, either haploid or diploid strains presenting Dα allele vary in virulence.
ISSN:0163-4453
1532-2742
DOI:10.1016/j.jinf.2004.07.013