title: Pathogenic diversity amongst serotype C VGIII and VGIV Cryptococcus gattii isolates.
abstract: Cryptococcus gattii is one of the causative agents of human cryptococcosis. Highly virulent strains of serotype B C. gattii have been studied in detail, but little information is available on the pathogenic properties of serotype C isolates. In this study, we analyzed pathogenic determinants in three serotype C C. gattii isolates (106.97, ATCC 24066 and WM 779). Isolate ATCC 24066 (molecular type VGIII) differed from isolates WM 779 and 106.97 (both VGIV) in capsule dimensions, expression of CAP genes, chitooligomer distribution, and induction of host chitinase activity. Isolate WM 779 was more efficient than the others in producing pigments and all three isolates had distinct patterns of reactivity with antibodies to glucuronoxylomannan. This great phenotypic diversity reflected in differential pathogenicity. VGIV isolates WM 779 and 106.97 were similar in their ability to cause lethality and produced higher pulmonary fungal burden in a murine model of cryptococcosis, while isolate ATCC 24066 (VGIII) was unable to reach the brain and caused reduced lethality in intranasally infected mice. These results demonstrate a high diversity in the pathogenic potential of isolates of C. gattii belonging to the molecular types VGIII and VGIV.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo M da C
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Godinho
authors.affiliation: 1] Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia [2] Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Firacative
authors.affiliation: Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maszewska
authors.affiliation: Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Wieland
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrank
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Charley
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staats
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kmetzsch
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilene H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vainstein
authors.affiliation: 1] Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [2] Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D002688:Chitinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D056285:Cryptococcus gattii / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D065288:Serogroup; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; C027478:glucuronoxylomannan; D002688:Chitinases