title: Application of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study of Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis.
abstract: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a nondestructive technique that identifies chemicals in solution and in living cells. It has been used in cryptococcal research to identify the primary structure of capsular glucuronoxylomannans, link cellular apoptosis susceptibility (CAS) genes to positioning of residues on the mannose backbone of glucuronoxylomannan, and verify that the cryptococcal virulence determinant, phospholipase B, is elaborated in vivo. Promising clinical applications include speciation (Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii), with preliminary evidence that varieties neoformans and grubii can also be distinguished, non-invasive diagnosis of cerebral cryptococcomas, and, in cases of meningitis, monitoring therapeutic response by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney at Westmead, NSW, Australia. tanias@icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Tania C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: Lesley C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Himmelreich
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D011522:Protons; C027478:glucuronoxylomannan