Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are fungal pathogens that are most commonly found in infections of the central nervous system, which cause life-threatening meningoencephalitis and can grow as a biofilm. Biofilms are structures conferring protection and resistance of microorganism to the antifungal drugs. This study compared the virulence of planktonic and biofilm cells of C. neoformans and C. gattii in Galleria mellonella model, as well as, the quantification of gene transcripts LAC1, URE1, and CAP59 by real time PCR. All three of the genes showed significantly increased expressions in the biofilm conditions for two species of Cryptococcus, when compared to planktonic cells. C. neoformans and C. gattii cells in the biofilm forms were more virulent than the planktonic cells in G. mellonella. This suggests that the biofilm conditions may contribute to the virulence profile. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the agents of cryptococcosis in the host-yeast aspects of the interaction.
Highlights
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are of global importance
It was observed that every strain was able to form agglomerates of cells characterized by a microorganism community firmly adhered to a non-biological surface and resulting in the formation of a mature biofilm
Biofilm formation is a common mechanism used by microorganisms to survive in hostile environments and to colonize and establish themselves in new environments, conferring protection against their destruction (Hall-Stoodley et al, 2004)
Summary
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are of global importance. An increasing number of cases have been observed in recent years, and despite current antifungal therapy, mortality rates are high (Perfect, 2013). The number of cases of cryptococcosis has increased exponentially in the last 30 years due to the advent of AIDS, the use of immunosuppressive therapy in transplant patients and the use of chemotherapeutic agents (McClelland et al, 2013). The use of antiretroviral therapy has been shown to be important in the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV patients, because increasing of CD4 creates benefits for early diagnosis of cryptococcosis through serology (Rajasingham and Boulware, 2015). The most serious disease manifestation is meningoencephalitis, cryptococcal pneumony is underdiagnosed and may disseminate to the central nervous system (CNS) and other sites, depending upon host defenses (Brizendine et al, 2011)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
