Virulence, capsule size and lipid composition interrelation of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Virulence and lipid composition were studied in three isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. Virulence was evaluated by injecting mice intraperitoneally with 10(7) cells and recording organ involvement and spontaneous death over a 25 day period. Though the least virulent strain contained the least amount of total lipid and phospholipids, none of the lipids showed any quantitative relation to virulence. There was no major difference in the phospholipid composition among the three strains. Fungal cells with bigger capsules had a lower lipid content. The role of lipid in the defence mechanism of pathogenic fungi during the host invasion process is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000032:analysis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D014774:Virulence
D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids