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Awala AN, Kauchali M, de Lange A, Higgitt ER, Mbangiwa T, Raimondo JV, Dangarembizi R. Mouse Organotypic Brain Slice Cultures: A Novel Model for Studying Neuroimmune Responses to Cryptococcal Brain Infections. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2667:31-45. [PMID: 37145274 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3199-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis affects millions of people worldwide and is especially prevalent in regions with a high burden of HIV/AIDS. The study of the pathophysiology of this often fatal disease has been significantly hindered by the lack of reliable experimental models, especially at the level of the brain, which is the main organ of injury. Here we outline our novel protocol for the use of hippocampal organotypic brain slice cultures (HOCs) to study the host-fungal interactions during cryptococcal infections of the brain. HOCs are a powerful platform for investigating neuroimmune interactions as they allow for the preservation of all innate neuroglial cells including microglia, astrocytes, and neurons, all of which maintain their three-dimensional architecture and functional connectivity. We made HOCs from neonatal mice and infected these with a fluorescent strain of Cryptococcus neoformans for 24 h. Using immunofluorescent staining, we confirmed the presence and morphology of microglia, astrocytes, and neurons in HOCs prior to infection. Using fluorescent and light microscopy, we also confirmed that Cryptococcus neoformans encapsulates and buds in vitro, as it would in a host. Finally, we demonstrate that infection of HOCs with Cryptococcus neoformans results in close association of the fungal cells with host microglial cells. Our results demonstrate the utility of HOCs as a model to study the pathophysiology and host neuroimmune responses in neurocryptococcosis, which may assist in improving our collective understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia N Awala
- Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maahir Kauchali
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anja de Lange
- Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emily Ruth Higgitt
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tshepiso Mbangiwa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph V Raimondo
- Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rachael Dangarembizi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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