Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
|---|
| cryptococcus neoformans isolation from swallow (hirundo rustica) excreta in iran. | cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can cause cryptococcosis, a life-threatening infection that mainly occurs in immunocompromised patients. the major environmental sources of c. neoformans have been shown to be soil contaminated with avian droppings. in the present study, we evaluated the isolation of c. neoformans from swallow (hirundo rustica) excreta in two northern cities of iran. ninety-seven swallow droppings were evaluated and 498 yeast-like colonies were isolated and i ... | 2011 | 21755233 |
| synthesis of aryl aldimines and their activity against fungi of clinical interest. | aldimines are aldehyde-derived compounds that contain a c=n group. besides its broad industrial applications, this class of non-natural occurring compounds are found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antipyretic properties. based on this, six aryl aldimines were synthesized from the condensation of aromatic amines with benzaldehydes. the antifungal activities of synthesized compounds were evaluated against nineteen fungi stra ... | 2011 | 21756287 |
| new surprises from within the black box of fungal melanization. | 2011 | 21758009 | |
| posaconazole: when and how? the clinician's view. | posaconazole is the newest triazole antifungal agent available as an oral suspension with an extended spectrum of activity against candida species, aspergillus species, cryptococcus neoformans, zygomycetes and endemic fungi. among posaconazole advantages are the relatively low potential of cross-resistance with other azoles, few drug interactions compared with other azoles and its activity against zygomycetes. randomised, double-blind trials have shown that posaconazole is effective for prophyla ... | 2011 | 21762211 |
| gastric cryptococcal infection as an initial presentation of aids: a rare case report. | cryptococcus neoformans has been recognized as a human pathogen over centuries. this has achieved new prominence in the recent years as it is an opportunistic fungi causing fatal, deep mycotic infections in immunocompromised states. although cryptococcus is principally a pathogen of central nervous system, wide variety of other organs may also be involved. gastrointestinal cryptococcosis is rarely reported either as an isolated finding or in a disseminated disease. however, even with the strikin ... | 2011 | 21771423 |
| a rapid and easy method for dna extraction from cryptococcus neoformans. | abstract: dna isolation from c. neoformans is difficult due to a thick and resistant capsule. we have optimized a new and rapid dna isolation method for cryptococcus using a short urea treatment followed by a rapid method using a chelex resin suspension. this procedure considerably simplifies previously reported methods. | 2011 | 21777412 |
| cell wall chitosan is necessary for virulence in the opportunistic pathogen cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis. its cell wall is composed of glucans, proteins, chitin and chitosan. multiple genetic approaches have defined a chitosan-deficient syndrome that includes slow growth and decreased cell integrity. here we demonstrate chitosan is necessary for virulence and persistance in the mammalian host. | 2011 | 21784998 |
| bacterial diversity from benthic mats of antarctic lakes as a source of new bioactive metabolites. | during the micromat project, the bacterial diversity of microbial mats growing in the benthic environment of antarctic lakes was accessed for the discovery of novel antibiotics. in all, 723 antarctic heterotrophic bacteria belonging to novel and/or endemic taxa in the +¦-, +¦- and +¦-subclasses of the proteobacteria, the bacteroidetes branch, and of the high and low percentage g+c gram-positives, were isolated, cultivated in different media and at different temperatures, and then screened for th ... | 2009 | 21798170 |
| diversity and pharmaceutical screening of fungi from benthic mats of antarctic lakes. | during the micromat project, the fungal diversity of microbial mats growing in the benthic environment of antarctic lakes was accessed for the discovery of novel antibiotics and anticancers. in all, 160 filamentous fungi belonging to fifteen different genera and 171 yeasts were isolated from 11 lakes, classified and cultivated in different media and at different temperatures. filamentous fungi were then screened to discover novel antimicrobial and cytotoxic compounds. a total of 1422 extracts we ... | 2009 | 21798171 |
| clinical features and epidemiology of cryptococcosis in cats and dogs in california: 93 cases (1988-2010). | objective-to compare clinical features of cryptococcosis among cats and dogs in california, determine whether the distribution of involved tissues differs from distribution reported previously in a study in southeastern australia, and identify cryptococcus spp isolated from the study population. design-retrospective case series. animals-62 cats and 31 dogs with cryptococcosis. procedures-medical records of cats and dogs with cryptococcosis were reviewed. information collected included geographic ... | 2011 | 21801050 |
| yojironins e-i, prenylated acylphloroglucinols from hypericum yojiroanum. | five new prenylated acylphloroglucinols, yojironins e-? (1-5), were isolated from the whole plants of hypericum yojiroanum. their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data. yojironin e (1) exhibited antimicrobial activity against aspergillus niger, candida albicans, cryptococcus neoformans, and trichophyton mentagrophytes. | 2011 | 21802287 |
| pcr-rea as an important tool for the identification of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii from human and veterinary sources. | the extraordinary ability of cryptococcus species to cause disease has focused the attention of scientists on finding ways to improve their identification methods. in this study, pcr-rea, manual methods (morphological and biochemical characteristics), api 20c and vitek 2 were used to test identify a total of 30 cryptococcus spp. from human and veterinary sources. pcr-rea was performed using the capsular region as amplification target followed by restriction with the enzymes agei, bsmfi and hpaii ... | 2011 | 21802868 |
| antimicrobial activity of mangrove plant (lumnitzera littorea). | to investigate the antimicrobial activities of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the leaves of lumnitzera littorea (l. littorea) against six human pathogenic microbes. | 2011 | 21803301 |
| neuroinfection survey at a neurological ward in a brazilian tertiary teaching hospital. | this study was undertaken to characterize the neuroinfection profile in a tertiary neurological ward. | 2011 | 21808869 |
| antifungal activity of bivittoside-d from bohadschia vitiensis (semper). | this study was carried out to investigate the antifungal activity of bohadschia vitiensis semper whole body extracts, followed by isolation and characterisation of bioactive molecules. the methanol extract of the b. vitiensis showed promising activity in in vitro models against candida albicans, cryptococcus neoformans, sporothrix schenckii, trichophyton mentagrophytes, aspergillus fumigatus and candida parapsilosis. the antifungal activity was found in aqueous fraction against c. albicans, c. n ... | 2011 | 21809953 |
| pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of ustica, sicily (italy). | several studies have shown that migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of pathogenic organisms. in october 2006, a health status evaluation was performed on a large population of migratory birds passing through the territory of ustica (italy), an island located on the migration route of many species of birds to africa, and various laboratory tests were conducted. in total, 218 faecal swabs and the internal organs of 21 subjects found dead in nets wer ... | 2011 | 21812720 |
| structures of cryptococcus neoformans protein farnesyltransferase reveal strategies for developing inhibitors that target fungal pathogens. | cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, including aids patients and transplant recipients. few antifungals can treat c. neoformans infections, and drug resistance is increasing. protein farnesyltransferase (ftase) catalyzes post-translational lipidation of key signal transduction proteins and is essential in c. neoformans. we present a multidisciplinary study validating c. neoformans ftase (cnftase) as a drug target, ... | 2011 | 21816822 |
| bifocal cryptococcal osteomyelitis: management of a patient with concurrent femur and rib infections. | abstract: a case of cryptococcus neoformans osteomyelitis involving both the femur and rib is reported. a 50-year-old male presented with a 1-month history of a persistently painful right hip. radiography revealed an osteolytic area in the subcapital region of the right femoral neck and trochanteric region, and magnetic resonance imaging (mri) revealed an intramedullary lesion in the peritrochanteric region. a tc99m whole body bone scan showed significantly increased uptake in the posterior aspe ... | 2011 | 21818749 |
| the copper regulon of the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans h99. | cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen that is the causative agent of cryptococcosis and fatal meningitis in immuno-compromised hosts. recent studies suggest that copper (cu) acquisition plays an important role in c.ôçâneoformans virulence, as mutants that lack cuf1, which activates the ctr4 high affinity cu importer, are hypo-virulent in mouse models. to understand the constellation of cu-responsive genes in c.ôçâneoformans and how their expression might contribute to virulence, we ... | 2011 | 21819456 |
| concurrent infection with cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex and mycobacterium avium affecting the subcutis and bone of a pelvic limb in a cat. | this paper describes a cat with severe localised infections with cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex and mycobacterium avium affecting the subcutis and underlying fascia and bone of the right pelvic limb. the simultaneous isolation of both pathogens in this patient was unexpected and posed unique issues concerning both diagnosis and clinical management. the aetiopathogenesis of this infection is discussed in relation to aspects of diagnosis and therapy. | 2011 | 21820926 |
| cryptococcal titan cell formation is regulated by g-protein signaling in response to multiple stimuli. | the titan cell is a recently described morphological form of the pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans. occurring during the earliest stages of lung infection, titan cells are 5-10 times larger than the normal yeast-like cells, thereby resisting engulfment by lung phagocytes and favoring persistence of infection. these enlarged cells exhibit altered capsule structure, thickened cell wall, increased ploidy, and resistance to nitrosative and oxidative stress. we demonstrate that two g protein- ... | 2011 | 21821718 |
| nonlytic exocytosis of cryptococcus neoformans from macrophages occurs in vivo and is influenced by phagosomal ph. | abstract a unique aspect of the interaction of the fungus cryptococcus neoformans with macrophages is the phenomenon of nonlytic exocytosis, also referred to as "vomocytosis" or phagosome extrusion/expulsion, which involves the escape of fungal cells from the phagocyte with the survival of both cell types. this phenomenon has been observed only in vitro using subjective and time-consuming microscopic techniques. in spite of recent advances in our knowledge about its mechanisms, a major question ... | 2011 | 21828219 |
| dynamics of cryptococcus neoformans-macrophage interactions reveal that fungal background influences outcome during cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in humans. | abstract cryptococcosis is a multifaceted fungal infection with variable clinical presentation and outcome. as in many infectious diseases, this variability is commonly assigned to host factors. to investigate whether the diversity of cryptococcus neoformans clinical (clincn) isolates influences the interaction with host cells and the clinical outcome, we developed and validated new quantitative assays using flow cytometry and j774 macrophages. the phenotype of clincn-macrophage interactions was ... | 2011 | 21828220 |
| a sensitive high-throughput assay for evaluating host-pathogen interactions in cryptococcus neoformans infection. | cryptococcus neoformans causes serious disease in immunocompromised individuals, leading to over 600,000 deaths per year worldwide. part of this impact is due to the organism's ability to thwart what should be the mammalian hosts' first line of defense against cryptococcal infection: internalization by macrophages. even when c. neoformans is engulfed by host phagocytes, it can survive and replicate within them rather than being destroyed; this ability is central in cryptococcal virulence. it is ... | 2011 | 21829509 |
| high resolution melting (hrm) analysis for the identification of cryptococcus neoformans-cryptococcus gattii complex. | we have developed a two-step method based on high resolution melting (hrm) that reliably identifies species from the cryptococcus species complex (c.neoformans var. grubii, c. neoformans var. neoformans and c. gattii). our results indicate that hrm can provide a fast protocol to identify and distinguish among the main cryptococcus spp. | 2011 | 21832024 |
| the homeostasis of iron, copper, and zinc in paracoccidioides brasiliensis, cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, and cryptococcus gattii: a comparative analysis. | iron, copper, and zinc are essential for all living organisms. moreover, the homeostasis of these metals is vital to microorganisms during pathogenic interactions with a host. most pathogens have developed specific mechanisms for the uptake of micronutrients from their hosts in order to counteract the low availability of essential ions in infected tissues. we report here an analysis of genes potentially involved in iron, copper, and zinc uptake and homeostasis in the fungal pathogens paracoccidi ... | 2011 | 21833306 |
| cryptococcus neoformans galactoxylomannan is a potent negative immunomodulator, inspiring new approaches in anti-inflammatory immunotherapy. | cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and occasionally in those with no known immune impairment. the fungus is endowed with several virulence factors, including capsular polysaccharides that play a key role in virulence. the capsule is composed of 90-95% glucuronoxylomannan (gxm), 5-8% galactoxylomannan (galxm) and <1% mannoproteins. capsular polysaccharides are shed into tissue where they produce ... | 2011 | 21843086 |
| Unique evolution of the UPR pathway with a novel bZIP transcription factor, Hxl1, for controlling pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans. | In eukaryotic cells, the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during exposure to diverse environmental conditions that cause ER stress. Here we report that the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has evolved a unique UPR pathway composed of an evolutionarily conserved Ire1 protein kinase and a novel bZIP transcription factor encoded by HXL1 (HAC1 and XBP1-Like gene 1). C. neoformans HXL1 encodes a protein ... | 2011 | 21852949 |
| Curtains. | A 55-year-old immunocompetent man presented with headache, nausea, progressive bilateral upper lid ptosis, and diplopia. Examination showed bilateral asymmetric upper lid ptosis with limited adduction and elevation of both eyes. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed enhancing intra-axial and extra-axial midbrain lesions. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for cryptococcal antigen and cerebrospinal fluid fungal cultures grew Cryptococcus neoformans. Treatment with liposomal amphote ... | 2011 | 21855953 |
| correlation of antifungal susceptibility and molecular type within the cryptococcus neoformans/c. gattii species complex. | members of the cryptococcus neoformans/c. gattii species complex are grouped into eight molecular types, differing in their epidemiology, disease severity and geographic range. recent in vitro antifungal susceptibility studies of isolates of the complex revealed contradictory results. the objective of the present study was to assess if this variation is random or correlates with different molecular types by testing the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of 18 c. neoformans (vni), 11 c. gattii (v ... | 2011 | 21859388 |
| long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii species complex in captive koalas (phascolarctes cinereus). | cryptococcosis is an important systemic mycosis caused by members of the cryptococcus neoformans species complex. this disease is potentially fatal in various animals, including koalas. we describe the long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization of koalas by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii. of the 15 animals investigated through the use of samples obtained by nasal swabs, antigen titer measurements, and pathologic examination, c. neoformans was ... | 2011 | 21859391 |
| snf1/ampk protein kinase modulates cell wall integrity in the human pathogenic yeast cryptococcus neoformans. | the snf1/ampk family of protein kinases is highly conserved among eukaryotes. our previous study showed that cryptococcus neoformans snf1 played critical roles in the production of virulence factors and virulence itself. in this paper, we report a novel function of snf1 in cell wall integrity. | 2011 | 21866697 |
| cryptococcus gattii: a resurgent fungal pathogen. | cryptococcus gattii and cryptococcus neoformans are causal agents of cryptococcosis, which manifests as pneumonia and meningitis. c. gattii has recently received widespread attention owing to outbreaks in british columbia, canada and the us pacific northwest. the biology of this tree-dwelling yeast is relatively unexplored, and there are few clues about how it causes infections in humans and animals. in this review, we summarize recent discoveries about c. gattii genetics and its ecological nich ... | 2011 | 21880492 |
| adalimumab-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis. | this is the first report of adalimumab-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis. a 56-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis without a history of pulmonary disease was simultaneously administered adalimumab (40 mg/2 wks), methotrexate (4 mg/wk), and isoniazid (200 mg/day). five months later, chest radiography revealed a small spiculated pulmonary nodule, and the laboratory test results, including levels of tumor markers and plasma β-d-glucan, were within normal ranges. since the lesion continued t ... | 2011 | 21881327 |
| Fungal polysaccharides: biological activity beyond the usual structural properties. | Studies on structure and function of polysaccharides in biological systems classically involve sequence and compositional analyses, anomeric configuration, type of glycosidic linkage, and presence of substituents. Recent studies, however, indicates that other structural parameters, so far little explored, can directly influence the biological activity of microbial polysaccharides. Among these parameters, we highlight the molecular dimensions of Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharides, which appe ... | 2011 | 21886639 |
| Emerging themes in cryptococcal capsule synthesis. | Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete yeast and opportunistic pathogen, expends significant biosynthetic effort on construction of a polysaccharide capsule with a radius that may be many times that of the cell. Beyond posing a stimulating challenge in terms of defining biosynthetic pathways, the capsule is required for this yeast to cause fatal disease. This combination has focused the attention of researchers on this system. Here we briefly review two aspects of the rapidly advancing field o ... | 2011 | 21889889 |
| Comparison of real-time florescence quantitative PCR measurements of VAD1 mRNA with three conventional methods in diagnosis and follow-up treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans infection. | This study was to develop a real-time florescence quantitative PCR (RT-FQ-PCR) assay to measure virulence-associated DEAD-box RNA helicase (VAD1) mRNA from Cryptococcus neoformans and evaluate its potential use in diagnosis and follow-up treatment of C. neoformans meningitis (CNM). Cryptococcus neoformans was detected using RT-FQ-PCR, ink staining, fungal culturing and C. neoformans antigen detection in CNM compared with a normal control. VAD1 mRNA was measured in both acute and stable CNM patie ... | 2011 | 21895785 |
| eosinophils elicit proliferation of naive and fungal-specific cells in vivo so enhancing a t helper type 1 cytokine profile in favour of a protective immune response against cryptococcus neoformans infection. | experimental cryptococcus neoformans infection in rats has been shown to have similarities with human cryptococcosis, because as in healthy humans, rats can effectively contain cryptococcal infection. moreover, it has been shown that eosinophils are components of the immune response to c. neoformans infections. in a previous in vitro study, we demonstrated that rat peritoneal eosinophils phagocytose opsonized live yeasts of c. neoformans, thereby triggering their activation, as indicated by the ... | 2011 | 21896014 |
| unravelling secretion in cryptococcus neoformans: more than one way to skin a cat. | secretion pathways in fungi are essential for the maintenance of cell wall architecture and for the export of a number of virulence factors. in the fungal pathogen, cryptococcus neoformans, much evidence supports the existence of more than one route taken by secreted molecules to reach the cell periphery and extracellular space, and a significant degree of crosstalk between conventional and non-conventional secretion routes. the need for such complexity may be due to differences in the nature of ... | 2011 | 21898146 |
| Antifungal activity and chemical composition of essential oils from Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Apiaceae) from Italy and Portugal. | The essential oils and supercritical CO(2) extracts of wild Smyrnium olusatrum L. growing in Sardinia (Italy) and in Portugal were investigated. For the study, oils were isolated from total plant aerial part (umbels containing seeds). The content of ß-phellandrene (67.3% vs. 42.7%) and a-pinene (31.9% vs. 1.2%), respectively, the main components of Portuguese and Italian essential oils, declined during the maturation stage of the umbels. Contrarily, some other important components, particularly ... | 2011 | 21902563 |
| synthesis and antifungal activity of natural product-based 6-alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines. | seven 6-alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines (5a-5g) that mimic the natural piperideines that were recently identified in fire ant venom have been synthesized. compounds 5c-5g with c-6 alkyl chain lengths from c14 to c18 showed varying degrees of antifungal activities, with 5e (6-hexadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) and 5f (6-heptadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) being the most active. compound 5e exhibited minimum fungicidal concentrations of 3.8, 15.0, 7.5, and 7.5 μg/ml against cryptococcus ne ... | 2011 | 21905650 |
| bovine cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. | cryptococcal meningitis and encephalitis is reported in a 5-year-old bull. the clinical signs included multifocal neurological deficits manifested by hypermetria, ataxia, depression, circling, impaired vision, head pressing, low head carriage, wide-based stance, and falling to the side or backwards. at necropsy, 6 cavities with a gelatinous content were observed in the brain and brain stem, and the meninges were thickened and off white. numerous yeasts, with a nonstaining capsule, and associated ... | 2011 | 21908375 |
| Proteomic analysis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells incubated with Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. | Cryptococcus neoformans is a medically important fungus and can infect all the organs of the body. As vascular endothelial cell is an important target for C. neoformans to penetrate any organs, the differential protein expression of human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) after incubating with C. neoformans may be the key to penetration. The proteins of HUVECs incubated with C. neoformans and normal HUVECs were collected and purified. After two-dimensional electrophoresis, the differen ... | 2011 | 21910755 |
| sodium butyrate inhibits pathogenic yeast growth and enhances the functions of macrophages. | butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that is produced by several human commensal bacteria, such as clostridium and lactobacillus species. butyrate is also known to inhibit histone deacetylase. in this study we assessed the antifungal activity of sodium butyrate (sb) against the human pathogenic yeasts candida albicans, candida parapsilosis and cryptococcus neoformans. | 2011 | 21911344 |
| 'Popping the Clutch': Novel Mechanisms Regulating Sexual Development in Cryptococcus neoformans. | Sexual reproduction in fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus provides natural selection and adaptation of the organisms to environmental conditions by allowing beneficial mutations to spread. However, successful mating in these fungi requires a time-critical induction of signaling pheromones when appropriate partners become available. Recently, it has been shown that the fungus uses the transcriptional equivalent of the racing technique: 'popping the clutch'-pushing in the clutch pedal, putting ... | 2011 | 21912854 |
| cryptococcus neoformans capsular enlargement and cellular gigantism during galleria mellonella infection. | we have studied infection of cryptococcus neoformans in the non-vertebrate host galleria mellonella with particular interest in the morphological response of the yeast. inoculation of c. neoformans in caterpillars induced a capsule-independent increase in haemocyte density 2 h after infection. c. neoformans manifested a significant increase in capsule size after inoculation into the caterpillar. the magnitude of capsule increase depended on the temperature, being more pronounced at 37°c than at ... | 2011 | 21915338 |
| wild-type mic distributions and epidemiologic cutoff values for fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole when testing cryptococcus neoformans as determined by the clsi broth microdilution method. | when clinical susceptibility breakpoints (cbps) are absent, establishing wild-type (wt) mic distributions and epidemiologic cutoff values (ecvs) provides a sensitive means for detecting emerging resistance to antimicrobials. we determined species-specific ecvs for fluconazole (flc), posaconazole (psc), and voriconazole (vrc) using a large global collection of cryptococcus neoformans (cneo) isolates obtained from the artemis and sentry antimicrobial surveillance programs. from 2006 to 2009, 285 i ... | 2011 | 21917395 |
| Evaluation of the in vitro activity of amphotericin B by time-kill curve methodology against large and small capsulate C. neoformans isolates. | We have evaluated and compared the activity of amphotericin B (AMB) by time-kill curve methodology against 20 clinical Cryptococcus neoformans isolates in which capsule induction in vitro was performed. Overall, large capsulated isolates were more resistant to killing by AMB over time when compared with those small capsulate ones. | 2011 | 21917396 |
| isolated cryptococcal osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient. | cryptococcosis is a rare infection in hiv-negative individuals. while the lungs and the central nervous system are most commonly infected, skeletal cryptococcosis is uncommon and isolated osteomyelitis due to cryptococcus neoformans is quite rare. to our knowledge, only 47 cases of isolated cryptococcal osteomyelitis have been reported from 1974 to 2005. we report a case of isolated cryptococcal osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient, who received 12 weeks of fluconazole with complete recov ... | 2011 | 21918309 |
| Multiple Disguises for the Same Party: The Concepts of Morphogenesis and Phenotypic Variations in Cryptococcus neoformans. | Although morphological transitions (such as hyphae and pseudohyphae formation) are a common feature among fungi, the encapsulated pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is found during infection as blastoconidia. However, this fungus exhibits striking variations in cellular structure and size, which have important consequences during infection. This review will summarize the main aspects related with phenotypic and morphological variations in C. neoformans, which can be divided in three classe ... | 2011 | 21922016 |
| heterozygosis and pathogenicity of cryptococcus neoformans ad-hybrid isolates. | nineteen cryptococcus neoformans ad-hybrid isolates were investigated to assess whether hybrid genomic background could affect virulence in a mouse model. the level of heterozygosity of each strain was analyzed using primers specific for allele a and d of 15 polymorphic genes. virulence was tested in a mouse model of systemic infection by measuring time of survival. in addition, the putative virulence attributes, melanin, phospholipase, and capsule production, as well as growth at 39°c and uv se ... | 2011 | 21922248 |
| The casein kinase I protein Cck1 regulates multiple signaling pathways and is essential for cell integrity and fungal virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. | Casein kinases regulate a wide range of cellular functions in eukaryotes, including phosphorylation of proteins that are substrates for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Our previous study demonstrated that Fbp1, a component of the SCF(FBP1) E3 ligase complex, was essential for Cryptococcus virulence. Because the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of Fbp1, Grr1, requires casein kinase I (Yck1 and Yck2) to phosphorylate its substrates, we investigated the function of casein kin ... | 2011 | 21926330 |
| Efficient Regioselective Three-Component Domino Synthesis of 3-(1,2,4-Triazol-5-yl)-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones as Potent Antifungal and Antituberculosis Agents. | In research for promising antibacterial and antifungal compounds, a series of 2-aryl 3-[1,2,4]triazol-5-yl 4-thiazolidinones 1 were synthesized by a domino reaction of 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazoles 3, aromatic aldehydes, and a-mercaptoacids in boiling toluene in the presence of molecular sieves 4 Å. Of the twenty novel 3-[1,2,4]triazol-5-yl 4-thiazolidinone derivatives, four compounds 2-benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-6-yl-3-[(3-morpholin-4-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)]-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (1i), 2-(4-chloroph ... | 2011 | 21932255 |
| diagnostic value of latex agglutination in cryptococcal meningitis. | cryptococcus neoformans is the most common fungal pathogen to infect the central nervous system, and an effective diagnostic method is therefore necessary for the early diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. | 2009 | 21938253 |
| in vitro antifungal activity of dna topoisomerase inhibitors. | in this paper we report the results of the study of the in vitro effect of eight anticancer dna topoisomerase inhibitors on the growth of aspergillus fumigatus, a. niger, candida glabrata and cryptococcus neoformans. only one compound, idarubicin, displayed promising antifungal activity against a. niger, c. glabrata and c. neoformans with mic(50) values varying between 3.6 and 14.2 μm (1.8-7.1 μg/ml). three other compounds, aclarubicin, doxorubicin and mitoxantrone, showed some antifungal activi ... | 2011 | 21939347 |
| identification of novel mimicry epitopes for cardiac myosin heavy chain-α that induce autoimmune myocarditis in a/j mice. | myocarditis is one cause of sudden cardiac death in young adolescents, and individuals affected with myocarditis can develop dilated cardiomyopathy, a frequent reason for heart transplantation. exposure to environmental microbes has been suspected in the initiation of heart autoimmunity, but the direct causal link is lacking. we report here identification of novel mimicry epitopes that bear sequences similar to those in cardiac myosin heavy chain (myhc)-α 334-352. these epitopes represent bacill ... | 2011 | 21939961 |
| The effects of gamma radiation, UV and visible light on ATP levels in yeast cells depend on cellular melanization. | Previously we have shown that growth of melanized fungi is stimulated by low levels of gamma radiation. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of visible light, UV light, and gamma radiation on the energy level (ATP concentration) in melanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells. Melanized C. neoformans cells as well as non-melanized controls were subjected to visible, UV or gamma radiation, and ATP was quantified by measuring the amount of light emitted by the ATP-dependent reaction of luc ... | 2011 | 21944206 |
| correlation of susceptibility of cryptococcus neoformans to amphotericin b with clinical outcome. | testing of cryptococcus neoformans for susceptibility to antifungal drugs by standard microtiter methods has not been shown to correlate with clinical outcomes. this report describes a modified quantitative broth macrodilution susceptibility method showing a correlation with both the patient's quantitative biological response in the cerebrospinal fluid (csf) and the survival of 85 patients treated with amphotericin b (amb). the spearman rank correlation between the quantitative in vitro measure ... | 2011 | 21947402 |
| toll-like receptor 9 modulates macrophage antifungal effector function during innate recognition of candida albicans and saccharomyces cerevisiae. | phagocytic responses are critical for effective host defense against opportunistic fungal pathogens. macrophages sample the phagosomal content and orchestrate the innate immune response. toll-like receptor 9 (tlr9) recognizes unmethylated cpg dna and is activated by fungal dna. here we demonstrate that specific triggering of tlr9 recruitment to the macrophage phagosomal membrane is a conserved feature of fungi of distinct phylogenetic origins, including candida albicans, saccharomyces cerevisiae ... | 2011 | 21947771 |
| ten challenges on cryptococcus and cryptococcosis. | cryptococcosis has become a significant public global health problem worldwide. caused by two species, cryptococcus neoformans or cryptococcus gattii, this life-threatening infection afflicts not only immunocompromised individuals but also apparently immunocompetent subjects. hence, cryptococcosis should no longer be considered merely an opportunistic infection. in this article, we focus on ten unanswered questions/topics in this field with the hope to stimulate discussion and research on these ... | 2011 | 21948062 |
| Dynamic virulence: real-time assessment of intracellular pathogenesis links Cryptococcus neoformans phenotype with clinical outcome. | While a myriad of studies have examined host factors that predispose persons to infection with the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, comparatively little has been done to examine how virulence factor differences among cryptococcal isolates may impact outcome. In the recent report by Alanio et al. (A. Alanio, M. Desnos-Ollivier, and F. Dromer, mBio 2:e00158-11, 2011), novel flow cytometry-based techniques were employed to demonstrate an association between the phenotype of C. ... | 2011 | 21954307 |
| [primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a pigeon breeder]. | a danish 73 year-old male patient with polymyalgia rheumatica and in prednisone treatment presented with a cutaneous ulcer on the hand caused by a scratch from a pigeon. initial treatment with antibiotics was unsuccessful. biopsy revealed cryptococcus neoformans and the patient recovered on antifungal treatment. primary cutaneous cryptococcosis is a rare manifestation of a c. neoformans infection. this case exemplifies the importance of differential diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients who do ... | 2011 | 21958488 |
| synthesis, stereochemistry and in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of novel 2-[(2,4-diaryl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)hydrazono]-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazoles. | 2-[(2,4-diaryl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)hydrazono]-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazoles (3a-3k) have been synthesized by the cyclization of 2-[(2,4-diaryl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one thiosemicarbazones with phenacyl bromide and characterized by analytical (melting point and elemental analysis) and spectral (ir, (1)h nmr, (13)c nmr, d(2)o exchange, noesy and mass) techniques. the novel hantzsch products (3a-3k) were screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against ... | 2011 | 21958543 |
| cryptococcus neoformans modulates extracellular killing by neutrophils. | we recently established a key role for host sphingomyelin synthase (sms) in regulating the killing activity of neutrophils against cryptococcus neoformans. in this paper, we studied the effect of c. neoformans on the killing activity of neutrophils and whether sms would still be a player against c. neoformans in immunocompromised mice lacking t and natural killer (nk) cells (tgε26 mice). to this end, we analyzed whether c. neoformans would have any effect on neutrophil survival and killing in vi ... | 2011 | 21960987 |
| iron influences the abundance of the iron regulatory protein cir1 in the fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans. | the gata-type, zinc-finger protein cir1 regulates iron uptake, iron homeostasis and virulence factor expression in the fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans. the mechanisms by which cir1 senses iron availability, although as yet undefined, are important for understanding the proliferation of the fungus in mammalian hosts. we investigated the influence of iron availability on cir1 and found that the abundance of the protein decreases upon iron deprivation. this destabilization was influenced by ... | 2011 | 21963719 |
| Protection of melanized Cryptococcus neoformans from lethal dose gamma irradiation involves changes in melanin's chemical structure and paramagnetism. | Certain fungi thrive in highly radioactive environments including the defunct Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans), which uses L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to produce melanin, was used here to investigate how gamma radiation under aqueous aerobic conditions affects the properties of melanin, with the aim of gaining insight into its radioprotective role. Exposure of melanized fungal cell in aqueous suspensions to doses of ?-radiation capable of killing 50 to ... | 2011 | 21966422 |
| abc proteins in yeast and fungal pathogens. | all fungal genomes harbour numerous abc (atp-binding cassette) proteins located in various cellular compartments such as the plasma membrane, vacuoles, peroxisomes and mitochondria. most of them have initially been discovered through their ability to confer resistance to a multitude of drugs, a phenomenon called pdr (pleiotropic drug resistance) or mdr (multidrug resistance). studying the mechanisms underlying pdr/mdr in yeast is of importance in two ways: first, abc proteins can confer drug res ... | 2011 | 21967054 |
| methylxanthine inhibit fungal chitinases and exhibit antifungal activity. | chitinases are necessary for fungal cell wall remodeling and cell replication. methylxanthines have been shown to competitively inhibit family 18 chitinases in vitro. we sought to determine the effects of methylxanthines on fungal chitinases. fungi demonstrated variable chitinase activity and incubation with methylxanthines (0.5-10 mm) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in this activity. all fungi tested, except for candida spp., demonstrated growth inhibition in the presence of methylxanthin ... | 2011 | 21968902 |
| chronological aging is associated with biophysical and chemical changes in the capsule of cryptococcus neoformans. | does the age of a microbial cell affect its virulence factors? to our knowledge, this question has not been addressed previously, but the answer is of great relevance for chronic infections where microbial cells persist and age in hosts. cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated human-pathogenic fungus notorious for causing chronic infections where cells of variable age persist in tissue. the major virulence factor for c. neoformans is a polysaccharide (ps) capsule. to understand how chronologi ... | 2011 | 21968999 |
| expression and characterization of cryptococcus neoformans recombinant app1. | we characterized cryptococcus neoformans recombinant antiphagocytic protein 1 (rapp1) by sds-page, gel filtration chromatography, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. rapp1 produced by c. neoformans var. grubii contains an odd number of cysteines; therefore, it has the ability to form intermolecular disulfide bridges which can lead to the formation of amyloid fibrils in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol or dtt in vitro. alternate approaches to over-expression of rapp1 in the lepidop ... | 2011 | 21971702 |
| Inhibition of HIV entry by extracellular glucuronoxylomannan of Cryptococcus neoformans. | Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, is the most common opportunistic fungal disease in HIV/AIDS patients. The prognosis of AIDS patients with Cryptococcus infection is very poor. One of the major characteristics in cryptococcosis patients is the presence of high concentrations of the cryptococcal capsule polysaccharide (CCP) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. CCP enhances HIV replication in H9 T-cells, but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we tested whether extracellular ... | 2012 | 21983597 |
| association of calcineurin with the copi protein sec28 and the copii protein sec13 revealed by quantitative proteomics. | calcineurin is a calcium-calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine specific protein phosphatase operating in key cellular processes governing responses to extracellular cues. calcineurin is essential for growth at high temperature and virulence of the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans but the underlying mechanism is unknown. we performed a mass spectrometry analysis to identify proteins that associate with the calcineurin a catalytic subunit (cna1) in c. neoformans cells grown under non- ... | 2011 | 21984910 |
| [Pleiotropic drug resistance ABC transporters in fungi]. | Overexpression of pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) efflux pumps of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is the major cause of fungal multi-drug resistance and decreased efficacy of antifungal drugs. This review focused on recent progresses in understanding of the PDR efflux pumps of ABC transporter superfamily in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fungal pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigates. The mechanisms underlying efflux pump-mediated ... | 2011 | 21993279 |
| Blood-brain barrier invasion by Cryptococcus neoformans is enhanced by functional interactions with plasmin. | Cryptococcus neoformans can invade the central nervous system through diverse mechanisms. We examined a possible role for host plasma proteases in the neurotropic behaviour of this blood-borne fungal pathogen. Plasminogen is a plasma-enriched zymogen that can passively coat the surface of blood-borne pathogens and, upon conversion to the serine protease plasmin, facilitate pathogen dissemination by degrading vascular barriers. In this study, plasminogen-to-plasmin conversion on killed and viable ... | 2012 | 21998162 |
| the c2 domain protein cts1 functions in the calcineurin signaling circuit during high-temperature stress responses in cryptococcus neoformans. | calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase that acts in cell stress responses. calcineurin is essential for growth at 37°c and for virulence of the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans, but its substrates remain unknown. the c2 domain-containing, phospholipid-binding protein cts1 was previously identified as a multicopy suppressor of a calcineurin mutation in c. neoformans. here we further characterize the function of cts1 and t ... | 2011 | 22002655 |
| Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Findings of Pyogenic, Tuberculous, and Cryptococcus Intracranial Abscesses. | Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) complements conventional methods used to differentiate intracranial cystic lesions. We report MRS findings of three cases that were diagnosed as pyogenic, tuberculous, and Cryptococcus abscesses before instituting any medical or surgical therapy. The pyogenic brain abscess had typical specific spectral findings (i.e., the demonstration of amino acids). Lactate and lipid peaks were visible in the tuberculous abscess. Cryptococcus neoformans can appear ... | 2011 | 22002661 |
| interaction of triosephosphate isomerase from staphylococcus aureus with plasminogen. | triosephosphate isomerase (tpi; ec 5. 3. 1. 1) displayed on the cell surface of staphylococcus aureus acts as an adhesion molecule that binds to the capsule of cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen. this study investigated the function of tpi on the cell surface of s. aureus and its interactions with biological substances such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, plasminogen, and thrombin were investigated. binding of tpi to plasminogen was demonstrated by both surface plasmon resonance analysis and ... | 2011 | 22003920 |
| Treatment of Early and Established Cryptococcus neoformans Infection with Radiolabeled Antibodies in Immunocompetent Mice. | We investigated the utility of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in early and established cryptococcal infection in immunocompetent mice. RIT with (213)Bi-18B7 antibody completely eliminated fungus from mouse lungs and brains for early infection, while (188)Re-18B7 significantly reduced CFU in the lungs or both lungs and brains during early and established infection, respectively. The results point to the independence of RIT of the immune status of the host, which is encouraging for translation of this s ... | 2012 | 22005995 |
| Ultrashort Peptide bioconjugates are exclusively antifungal agents and synergize with cyclodextrin and amphotericin B. | Many natural broad-spectrum cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) possess a general mode of action that is dependent on lipophilicity and charge. Modulating the lipophilicity of AMPs by the addition of a fatty acid has been an effective strategy to increase the lytic activity and can further broaden the spectrum of AMPs. However, lipophilic modifications that narrow the spectrum of activity and exclusively direct peptides to fungi are less common. Here, we show that short peptide sequences can ... | 2012 | 22006001 |
| genotypes of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii as agents of endemic cryptococcosis in teresina, piauí (northeastern brazil). | throughout brazil, cryptococcus neoformans is the cause of cryptococcosis, whereas cryptococcus gattii is endemic to the northern and northeastern states. in this study, the molecular types of 63 cryptococcal isolates recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid of meningitis patients diagnosed between 2008-2010 in teresina, piauí, brazil, were analysed. out of the 63 patients, 37 (58.7%) were human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive and 26 (41.3%) were hiv-negative. ura5-restriction fragment lengt ... | 2011 | 22012227 |
| Are all psittacine birds carriers of Cryptococcus neoformans? | 2011 | 22012238 | |
| fulminant intracranial hypertension due to cryptococcal meningitis in a child with nephrotic syndrome. | cryptococcus neoformans has a worldwide distribution. meningoencephalitis is the most common manifestation of cryptococcosis. the outcome of a patient with cryptococcal infection depends on the immune status of the host. patients with nephrotic syndrome are particularly susceptible to cryptococcal infection not only due to innate changes in their immune system but also because of the immunosuppressive agents used in the treatment. we report an 8-year-old boy with nephrotic syndrome, who develope ... | 2011 | 22013311 |
| biophysical methods for the study of microbial surfaces. | the challenge in studying the surface architecture of different microbial pathogens is to integrate the most current biochemical, spectroscopic, microscopic, and processing techniques. individually these methods have insufficient sensitivity to reveal complex structures, such as branched, large, viscous polymers with a high structure hydration, size, and complexity. however, when used in combination biophysical techniques are our primary source of information for understanding polydisperse molec ... | 2011 | 22013430 |
| the synthesis of xanthones, xanthenediones, and spirobenzofurans: their antibacterial and antifungal activity. | exposure of the phenol, (5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone 18 to ceric ammonium nitrate (can) resulted in the formation of 7-bromo-3,4a-dimethoxy-2h-xanthene-2,9(4ah)-dione 19 and 5-bromo-2',5'-dimethoxy-3h-spiro[benzofuran-2,1'-cyclohexa[2,5]diene]-3,4'-dione 20. the brominated spirobenzofuran 20 was then subjected to suzuki-miyaura reactions to give six derivatives 22a-f. these compounds, related diones and xanthones displayed mostly noteworthy antimicrobial activity, p ... | 2011 | 22014830 |
| Generalized Cryptococcus albidus in an immunosuppressed patient with palmopustular psoriasis. | Cryptococcal infection is relatively uncommon, except among immunocompromised individuals. The most common human pathogenic species is Cryptococcus neoformans. Virtually all organs can be affected, particularly the central nervous and pulmonary systems. The prototypical manifestations of cutaneous cryptococcal infection include generalized papules, periorificial acneiform pustules, and molluscumlike vesicles on the upper body. We describe an unusual case of Cryptococcus albidus infection present ... | 2011 | 22017065 |
| antifungal activity of phenolic-rich lavandula multifida l. essential oil. | this study evaluates the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of a new chemotype of lavandula multifida from portugal. the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography (gc) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (gc/ms), and the minimal inhibitory concentration (mic) and minimal lethal concentration (mlc) of the oil and its major compounds were determined against several pathogenic fungi responsible for candidosis, meningitis, dermatophytosis, and aspergillosis. the influence of the ... | 2011 | 22020493 |
| Requirement of a Tsp2-Type Tetraspanin for Laccase Repression and Stress Resistance in the Basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans. | Fungal laccases have been widely used in industry. The expression of laccase often is repressible by the primary carbon source glucose in many fungi. The underlying basis is largely unclear. We demonstrate here that a gene, TSP2-1, was required for laccase repression by glucose in the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans. TSP2-1 encodes a Tsp2-type tetraspanin. The disruption of TSP2-1 resulted in constant melanin formation and the expression of the laccase gene LAC1. This derepression phenotyp ... | 2012 | 22020508 |
| matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry identification of yeasts is contingent on robust reference spectra. | matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) for yeast identification is limited by the requirement for protein extraction and for robust reference spectra across yeast species in databases. we evaluated its ability to identify a range of yeasts in comparison with phenotypic methods. | 2011 | 22022438 |
| catch me if you can: phagocytosis and killing avoidance by cryptococcus neoformans. | after inhalation of infectious particles, cryptococcus neoformans resides in the alveolar spaces, where it can survive and replicate in the extracellular environment. this yeast has developed different mechanisms to avoid internalization by phagocytic cells, the main one being a polysaccharide capsule around the cell body, which inhibits the uptake of the yeast by macrophages. in addition, capsule-independent mechanisms have also been described, such as the production of antiphagocytic proteins. ... | 2011 | 22029633 |
| Variation in chromosome copy number influences the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans and occurs in isolates from AIDS patients. | The adaptation of pathogenic fungi to the host environment via large-scale genomic changes is a poorly characterized phenomenon. Cryptococcus neoformans is the leading cause of fungal meningoencephalitis in HIV/AIDS patients, and we recently discovered clinical strains of the fungus that are disomic for chromosome 13. Here, we examined the genome plasticity and phenotypes of monosomic and disomic strains, and compared their virulence in a mouse model of cryptococcosis | 2011 | 22032296 |
| development of non-natural flavanones as antimicrobial agents. | with growing concerns over multidrug resistance microorganisms, particularly strains of bacteria and fungi, evolving to become resistant to the antimicrobial agents used against them, the identification of new molecular targets becomes paramount for novel treatment options. recently, the use of new treatments containing multiple active ingredients has been shown to increase the effectiveness of existing molecules for some infections, often with these added compounds enabling the transport of a t ... | 2011 | 22039419 |
| contributions of the myd88-dependent receptors il-18r, il-1r, and tlr9 to host defenses following pulmonary challenge with cryptococcus neoformans. | signaling via the adapter protein, myd88, is important in the host defense against cryptococcus neoformans infection. while certain toll-like receptors (tlrs) can enhance the clearance of cryptococcus, the contributions of myd88-dependent, tlr-independent pathways have not been fully investigated. we examined the roles of il-1r and il-18r in vivo by challenging c57bl/6 mice with a lethal strain of cryptococcus. we found that the absence of il-18r, but not il-1r, causes a shift in the survival cu ... | 2011 | 22039448 |
| quantitative evaluation of cryptococcal pathogenesis and antifungal drugs using a silkworm infection model with cryptococcus neoformans. | to develop an in vivo system that could quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effects of antifungal drugs using a silkworm infection model with cryptococcus neoformans. | 2012 | 22040451 |
| disease transmission from companion parrots to dogs and cats: what is the real risk? | a number of common misconceptions exist regarding the degree of transmission from companion parrots to dogs and cats. concern regarding bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic transmission is generally unfounded, because disease transmission between companion parrots and dogs and cats is not well-documented. infections with mycobacterium spp, aspergillus spp, giardia spp, chlamydophila psittaci, salmonella spp, yersinia pseudotuberculosis, cryptococcus neoformans, histoplasma capsulatum, cryptos ... | 2011 | 22041215 |
| paradoxical roles of alveolar macrophages in the host response to cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans (cn) is a fungal pathogen that is a serious health threat to immunocompromised individuals. upon environmental exposure, infectious fungal propagules are inhaled into the host's lungs. the anticryptococcal actions of alveolar macrophages (am), the predominant host phagocyte of the innate immune system in the lungs, are fundamental in determining whether containment and clearance of the pathogen occurs by the development of an adapted immune response or whether infection i ... | 2011 | 22045161 |
| toward developing a universal treatment for fungal disease using radioimmunotherapy targeting common fungal antigens. | background: previously, we demonstrated the ability of radiolabeled antibodies recognizing the cryptococcal polysaccharide capsule to kill cryptococcus neoformans both in vitro and in infected mice. this approach, known as radioimmunotherapy (rit), uses the exquisite ability of antibodies to bind antigens to deliver microbicidal radiation. to create rit reagents which would be efficacious against all major medically important fungi, we have selected monoclonal antibodies (m ... | 2011 | 22048869 |
| proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from cranberry fruit ( vaccinium macrocarpon ait.) selectively inhibit the growth of human pathogenic fungi candida spp. and cryptococcus neoformans. | cranberry ( vaccinium macrocarpon ) has been shown in clinical studies to reduce infections caused by escherichia coli and other bacteria, and proanthocyanidins are believed to play a role. the ability of cranberry to inhibit the growth of opportunistic human fungal pathogens that cause oral, skin, respiratory, and systemic infections has not been well-studied. fractions from whole cranberry fruit were screened for inhibition of five candida species and cryptococcus neoformans , a causative ... | 2011 | 22066866 |
| voriconazole, combined with amphotericin b, in the treatment for pulmonary cryptococcosis caused by c. neoformans (serotype a) in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (scid). | cryptococcosis is a subacute or chronic systemic mycosis with a cosmopolitan nature, caused by yeast of the genus cryptococcus neoformans. the model of systemic cryptococcosis in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) is useful for immunological and therapeutic study of the disease in immunodeficient hosts. amphotericin b, fluconazole and flucytosine are the drugs most commonly used to treat cryptococcosis. voriconazole is a triazole with high bioavailability, large distribution volum ... | 2011 | 22071662 |
| Quality Control of Fungus-specific Glucosylceramide in Cryptococcus neoformans by Endoglycoceramidase-related Protein 1 (EGCrP1). | A fungus-specific glucosylceramide (GlcCer), which contains a unique sphingoid base possessing two double bonds and a methyl substitution, is essential for pathogenicity in fungi. Although the biosynthetic pathway of the GlcCer has been well elucidated, little is known about GlcCer catabolism because a GlcCer-degrading enzyme (glucocerebrosidase) has yet to be identified in fungi. We found a homologue of endoglycoceramidase tentatively designated endoglycoceramidase-related protein 1 (EGCrP1) in ... | 2012 | 22072709 |
| influence of caspule size on the in vitro activity of antifungal agents against clinical cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii strains. | cryptococcosis cause disseminated disease in aids patients. in contrast to what occurs in laboratory conditions, a large capsule is produced by c. neoformans in vivo during infection. aim: to compare the in vitro activity of different antifungal agents against 34 clinical isolates of cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii with or without capsule induction (clsi, clsi-c) following the clsi m27a3 document. capsule induction was obtained by addition of nahco(3) and incubation with co(2). results: ... | 2011 | 22074850 |