title: Difference in Cryptococcus neoformans cellular and capsule size in sequential pulmonary and meningeal infection: a postmortem study.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that primarily causes a life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunosuppressed individuals especially those with HIV/AIDS. Its main virulence factor is its polysaccharide capsule which interferes with complement-mediated phagocytosis. C. neoformans infections ensue following inhalation of small desiccated less encapsulated propagules leading to pulmonary pneumonia or colonization of the host's respiratory tract. Numerous murine experimental studies have shown major discrepancies in cryptococcal cell and capsule enlargement between the lung and brain. In this report, we describe a nonmurine experimental model of the striking variability between cryptococcal cell and capsule size diameters in histology sections of postmortem lung and brain in a fatal cryptococcal infection in a heart transplant recipient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. Xies@wcmc.com
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sao
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bottone
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000382:microbiology; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D037521:Virulence Factors