Journal
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
Volume 75, Issue 10, Pages 4769-4779Publisher
AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00536-07
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Funding
- NIAID NIH HHS [AI045995, AI049371, R01 AI049371, F32 AI062124, AI062124, R01 AI045995] Funding Source: Medline
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Mannan binding lectin (MBL) is an innate immune mediator belonging to the collectin family known to bind to the surfaces of many viruses, bacteria, and fungi. However, pathogenic strains of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans are resistant to MBL binding. To dissect the mechanism of cryptococcal resistance to MBL, we compared MBL binding to an encapsulated wild-type strain, an encapsulated ccr4 Delta mutant defective in cell integrity, and an acapsular cap60 Delta strain. No MBL binding was detected on wild-type C. neoformans. In contrast, the ccr4 Delta mutant bound MBL to the cell wall, predominantly at the ends of enlarged buds, whereas the acapsular strain bound MBL only at the bud neck and bud scars. In addition, the ccr4 Delta mutant was sensitive to the cell wall-active antifungal caspofungin and other cell wall stress inducers, and its virulence was reduced in a mouse model of cryptococcosis. Interestingly, treatment of wild-type cells with caspofungin also increased MBL binding to C. neoformans. These results suggest that both the presence of capsule and wild-type cell wall architecture preclude MBL binding to C. neoformans.
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