Neurovirulence of Cryptococcus neoformans determined by time course of capsule accumulation and total volume of capsule in the brain.

摘要: Cryptococcal meningitis remains a significant opportunistic infection in HIV-infected individuals worldwide, despite availability of antiretroviral therapies developed nations. Current therapy with amphotericin B is difficult to administer and only partially effective. Mechanisms cryptococcal neuropathogenesis are still not clearly defined. In the present study, we used C57Bl/6 mouse model intravenous inoculation three isogenic strains Cryptococcus neoformans: H99, Cap59, Pkr1-33. These differ their capsule production normocapsular, hypocapsular, hypercapsular, respectively. We studied role morbidity mortality our host animal. Surprisingly, found that hypercapsular strain was least virulent while produced less were more had higher concentrations organism brain. results suggest neurovirulence related total volume rate accumulation brain, rather than amount per organism. Therapies which decrease central nervous system dissemination inhibit replication rates brain may be effective target production.