title: Fungal serotype-specific differences in bacterial-yeast interactions.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) causes meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. This encapsulated fungus can be found interacting with environmental microbes in soil contaminated with pigeon excrement. Cn survival within polymicrobial and other challenging communities has been shown to affect the evolution of its virulence factors. We compared the survival of 10 serotype A and D strains after interaction with the soil bacterium, Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab). Although co-incubation with Ab stimulated virulence factors production by strains of both cryptococcal serotypes, on average, serotype A strains displayed significantly higher survival rate, number of metabolically active cells within biofilms, and capsular polysaccharide production and release than serotype D strains. Our findings suggest that interactions of Cn with other microorganisms influence the fungus' regulation and production of virulence factors, important elements needed for the successful colonization of the human host.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology ; Faculty of Sciences and Health ; Koya University , Koya-Erbil , Iraq.
authors.forename: Asan F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Abdulkareem
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biomedical Sciences ; NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine ; New York Institute of Technology , Old Westbury , NY USA.
authors.forename: Hiu Ham
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biology ; Adelphi University , Garden City , NY USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biomedical Sciences ; NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine ; New York Institute of Technology , Old Westbury , NY USA.
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D050296:Microbial Viability; D065288:Serogroup; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: A. baumannii; C. neoformans; biofilms; microbe-microbe interactions; virulence