title: Cell wall chitosan is necessary for virulence in the opportunistic pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis. Its cell wall is composed of glucans, proteins, chitin, and chitosan. Multiple genetic approaches have defined a chitosan-deficient syndrome that includes slow growth and decreased cell integrity. Here we demonstrate chitosan is necessary for virulence and persistence in the mammalian host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8230, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Lorina G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lodge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000378:metabolism*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005936:Glucans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan