title: Killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae protects against lethal challenge of Cryptococcus grubii.
abstract: Heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HKY) vaccination protects mice against aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis, mucormycosis, or candidiasis. We studied HKY protection against murine cryptococcosis. Once weekly subcutaneous HKY doses (S, 6 × 10(7); 2S, 1.2 × 10(8); 3S, 2.4 × 10(8)) began 28 (×3), 35 (×4), or 42 (×6) days prior to intravenous Cryptococcus grubii infection. Survival through 28 days, and CFU in the organs of survivors, were compared to saline-vaccinated controls. In the initial experiment, S, S×4, or 2S reduced brain CFU; liver or spleen CFU was reduced by S×4 or 2S. In a more lethal second experiment, 2S×6, 2S, or 3S×4 improved survival, and HKY regimens reduced CFU in the brain, liver, or spleen, with 2S×6, 2S, or 3S×4 most efficacious. Dose size appears more important than the number of doses: Regimens >S were superior, and 2S and 2S×6 were equivalent. 2S and 3S were equivalent, suggesting doses >2S do not provide additional protection. HKY protects against Cryptococcus, supporting components of HKY as a basis for the development of a panfungal vaccine.
authors.affiliation: California Institute for Medical Research, 2260 Clove Dr., San Jose, CA, 95128, USA.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Marife
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: Karl V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D056738:Cross Protection; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated