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Fluconazole alters the polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus gattii and leads to distinct behaviors in murine Cryptococcosis.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2014 Nov 13; Vol. 9 (11), pp. e112669. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Nov 13 (Print Publication: 2014). - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Cryptococcus gattii is an emergent human pathogen. Fluconazole is commonly used for treatment of cryptococcosis, but the emergence of less susceptible strains to this azole is a global problem and also the data regarding fluconazole-resistant cryptococcosis are scarce. We evaluate the influence of fluconazole on murine cryptococcosis and whether this azole alters the polysaccharide (PS) from cryptococcal cells. L27/01 strain of C. gattii was cultivated in high fluconazole concentrations and developed decreased drug susceptibility. This phenotype was named L27/01F, that was less virulent than L27/01 in mice. The physical, structural and electrophoretic properties of the PS capsule of L27/01F were altered by fluconazole. L27/01F presented lower antiphagocytic properties and reduced survival inside macrophages. The L27/01F did not affect the central nervous system, while the effect in brain caused by L27/01 strain began after only 12 hours. Mice infected with L27/01F presented lower production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, with increased cellular recruitment in the lungs and severe pulmonary disease. The behavioral alterations were affected by L27/01, but no effects were detected after infection with L27/01F. Our results suggest that stress to fluconazole alters the capsule of C. gattii and influences the clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cryptococcosis microbiology
Cryptococcosis mortality
Cryptococcosis pathology
Cryptococcus gattii chemistry
Cryptococcus gattii pathogenicity
Drug Resistance, Fungal drug effects
Fungal Capsules chemistry
Humans
Macrophages drug effects
Macrophages microbiology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Microbial Viability
Phenotype
Severity of Illness Index
Survival Analysis
Antifungal Agents pharmacology
Cryptococcosis drug therapy
Cryptococcus gattii drug effects
Fluconazole pharmacology
Fungal Capsules drug effects
Fungal Polysaccharides chemistry
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25392951
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112669