Genetic association of mating types and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans.
A pair of congenic Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans strains, B-4476 (a mating type) and B-4500 (alpha mating type), that presumably differ only in mating type was constructed. This pair and their progeny, five alpha type and five a type, were tested for virulence in mice. In the parent strains as well as the progeny, alpha type was clearly more virulent than a type. In addition, death tended to occur earlier among the alpha-strain-infected mice that died than among the mice that died by infection caused by a strains. These data strongly suggest the genetic association of virulence with mating type in this human fungal pathogen.
Kwon-Chung
K J
KJ
Clinical Mycology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Edman
J C
JC
Wickes
B L
BL
D000818:Animals; D010856:Columbidae; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D006358:Hot Temperature; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014774:Virulence