Journal
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
Volume 12, Issue 3, Pages 227-238Publisher
FUTURE MEDICINE LTD
DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0060
Keywords
capsule; Cryptococcus; polyphosphate
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Funding
- Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Inovacao em Doencas Negligenciadas (INCT-IDN, CNPq) [573642/2008-7]
- CNPq [443586/2014-4, 300699/2013-1]
- FAPERJ [E-26/102.835/2012, 210.918/2015]
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Aim: In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship of phosphorus-rich structures with surface architecture in Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods: Phosphorus-rich structures in C. neoformans were analyzed by combining fluorescence microscopy, biochemical extraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe x-ray microanalysis and 3D reconstruction of high pressure frozen and freeze substituted cells by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Results & conclusion: Intracellular and surface phosphorus-enriched structures were identified. These molecules were required for capsule assembly, as demonstrated in experiments using polysaccharide incorporation by capsule-deficient cells and mutants with defects in polyphosphate synthesis. The demonstration of intracellular and cell wall-associated polyphosphates in C. neoformans may lead to future studies involving their participation in both physiologic and pathogenic events.
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