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Musetta L, Helsper S, Roosen L, Maes D, Croitor Sava A, Vanherp L, Gsell W, Vande Velde G, Lagrou K, Meyer W, Himmelreich U. Quantitative MRI of a Cerebral Cryptococcoma Mouse Model for In Vivo Distinction between Different Cryptococcal Molecular Types. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:593. [PMID: 39194918 DOI: 10.3390/jof10080593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The controversially discussed taxonomy of the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex encompasses at least eight major molecular types. Cerebral cryptococcomas are a common manifestation of cryptococcal neurological disease. In this study, we compared neurotypical symptoms and differential neurovirulence induced by one representative isolate for each of the eight molecular types studied. We compared single focal lesions caused by the different isolates and evaluated the potential relationships between the fungal burden and properties obtained with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) techniques such as diffusion MRI, T2 relaxometry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We observed an inverse correlation between parametric data and lesion density, and we were able to monitor longitudinally biophysical properties of cryptococcomas induced by different molecular types. Because the MRI/MRS techniques are also clinically available, the same approach could be used to assess image-based biophysical properties that correlate with fungal cell density in lesions in patients to determine personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Musetta
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shannon Helsper
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lara Roosen
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Maes
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anca Croitor Sava
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Vanherp
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center for Mycosis, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Westerdjjk Fungal Biodiversity Institute-KNAW, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Roosen L, Maes D, Musetta L, Himmelreich U. Preclinical Models for Cryptococcosis of the CNS and Their Characterization Using In Vivo Imaging Techniques. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:146. [PMID: 38392818 PMCID: PMC10890286 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii remain a challenge to our healthcare systems as they are still difficult to treat. In order to improve treatment success, in particular for infections that have disseminated to the central nervous system, a better understanding of the disease is needed, addressing questions like how it evolves from a pulmonary to a brain disease and how novel treatment approaches can be developed and validated. This requires not only clinical research and research on the microorganisms in a laboratory environment but also preclinical models in order to study cryptococci in the host. We provide an overview of available preclinical models, with particular emphasis on models of cryptococcosis in rodents. In order to further improve the characterization of rodent models, in particular the dynamic aspects of disease manifestation, development, and ultimate treatment, preclinical in vivo imaging methods are increasingly used, mainly in research for oncological, neurological, and cardiac diseases. In vivo imaging applications for fungal infections are rather sparse. A second aspect of this review is how research on models of cryptococcosis can benefit from in vivo imaging methods that not only provide information on morphology and tissue structure but also on function, metabolism, and cellular properties in a non-invasive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Roosen
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Maes
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luigi Musetta
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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