Networks of fibers and factors: regulation of capsule formation in Cryptococcus neoformans [version 1; referees: 5 approved]

F1000Research

James W. Kronstad¹  Glauber R. de S. Araújo²  Susana Frases²  François L. Mayer³  Eddy Sánchez-León³  Hao Ding³ 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada;Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada;

关键词: Antimicrobials & Drug Resistance;    Cellular Microbiology & Pathogenesis;    Epidemiology;    Fungal Infections;    Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System;    Medical Microbiology;    Microbial Evolution & Genomics;    Microbial Physiology & Metabolism;   

DOI  :  10.12688/f1000research.8854.1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The ability of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to cause life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals is due in large part to elaboration of a capsule consisting of polysaccharide fibers. The size of the cell-associated capsule is remarkably responsive to a variety of environmental and host conditions, but the mechanistic details of the regulation, synthesis, trafficking, and attachment of the polysaccharides are poorly understood. Recent studies reveal a complex network of transcription factors that influence capsule elaboration in response to several different signals of relevance to disease (e.g., iron deprivation). The emerging complexity of the network is consistent with the diversity of conditions that influence the capsule and illustrates the responsiveness of the fungus to both the environment and mammalian hosts.

【 授权许可】

Unknown