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Martins Oliveira-Brito PK, de Campos GY, Guimarães JG, Machado MP, Serafim LC, Lazo Chica JE, Roque-Barreira MC, da Silva TA. Adjuvant ArtinM favored the host immunity against Cryptococcus gattii infection in C57BL/6 mice. Immunotherapy 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38940276 DOI: 10.1080/1750743x.2024.2360384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: Cryptococcus gattii causes a severe fungal infection with high mortality rate among immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. Due to limitation of current antifungal treatment, new immunotherapeutic approaches are explored. Methods: This study investigated an immunization strategy utilizing heat-inactivated C. gattii with ArtinM as an adjuvant. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally immunized with heat-killed C. gattii and ArtinM was administrated either before immunization or along with HK-C. gattii. Mice were infected with C. gattii and the efficacy of the immunization protocol was evaluated. Results: Mice that received ArtinM exhibited increased levels of IL-10 and relative expression of IL-23 in the lungs, reduced fungal burden and preserved tissue integrity post-infection. Conclusion: Adjuvant ArtinM improved immunization against C. gattii infection in C57BL/6 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Kellen Martins Oliveira-Brito
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Yamazaki de Campos
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Júlia Garcia Guimarães
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michele Procópio Machado
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia Costa Serafim
- Microbiology Postgraduate Program of the Microbiology Department of the Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICB) of University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Javier Emílio Lazo Chica
- Institute of Natural & Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology & Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Clinical Hematology Lab, Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Araraquara (FCFAR), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science & Technology in Human Pathogenic Fungi, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,Brazil
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Hester MM, Carlson D, Lodge JK, Levitz SM, Specht CA. Immune evasion by Cryptococcus gattii in vaccinated mice coinfected with C. neoformans. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356651. [PMID: 38469300 PMCID: PMC10925662 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis, cause over 100,000 deaths worldwide every year, yet no cryptococcal vaccine has progressed to clinical trials. In preclinical studies, mice vaccinated with an attenuated strain of C. neoformans deleted of three cryptococcal chitin deacetylases (Cn-cda1Δ2Δ3Δ) were protected against a lethal challenge with C. neoformans strain KN99. While Cn-cda1Δ2Δ3Δ extended the survival of mice infected with C. gattii strain R265 compared to unvaccinated groups, we were unable to demonstrate fungal clearance as robust as that seen following KN99 challenge. In stark contrast to vaccinated mice challenged with KN99, we also found that R265-challenged mice failed to induce the production of protection-associated cytokines and chemokines in the lungs. To investigate deficiencies in the vaccine response to R265 infection, we developed a KN99-R265 coinfection model. In unvaccinated mice, the strains behaved in a manner which mirrored single infections, wherein only KN99 disseminated to the brain and spleen. We expanded the coinfection model to Cn-cda1Δ2Δ3Δ-vaccinated mice. Fungal burden, cytokine production, and immune cell infiltration in the lungs of vaccinated, coinfected mice were indicative of immune evasion by C. gattii R265 as the presence of R265 neither compromised the immunophenotype established in response to KN99 nor inhibited clearance of KN99. Collectively, these data indicate that R265 does not dampen a protective vaccine response, but rather suggest that R265 remains largely undetected by the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen M. Hester
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Diana Carlson
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer K. Lodge
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Charles A. Specht
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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de Campos GY, Oliveira-Brito PKM, Guimarães JG, da Costa LS, Lazo Chica JE, da Silva TA. Adjuvant Pam3CSk4 does not improve the immunization against Cryptococcus gattii infection in C57BL/6 mice. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14778. [PMID: 36743957 PMCID: PMC9897066 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is a relevant invasive fungal infection that affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals when caused by Cryptococcus gattii. Host innate and adaptive immune responses can be subverted by C. gattii, that blocks the differentiation of T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells, which are involved in the protection against cryptococcosis. Moreover, the macrophage polarization is modulated by C. gattii infection that requires a balance in the macrophage subsets to control the C. gattii infection. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 agonists are important immunomodulators favoring a pro-inflammatory response with potential fungicidal activity, and TLR2 agonists have been used as adjuvants in vaccines against infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the tripalmitoyl lipopeptide S-glycerol cysteine (Pam3CSK4 or P3C4), a TLR2 agonist, as an adjuvant in the vaccination against C. gattii infection. Methods and Results C57BL/6 mice were immunized with 2 × 107 inactivated yeasts of C. gattii via intranasal route on day 1, 14 and 28 (Immunized group). Immunization was associated with 1µg or 10µg of adjuvant P3C4 (Immunized+P3C4-1µg or Immunized+P3C4-10 µg), followed by C. gattii infection on day 42 after the immunization protocol. Immunized+P3C4-1 µg group had reduced levels of IgG1, IgG2a and IgA and no significant difference in the IgG and IgM anti-GXM antibody titer was detected, compared to the Immunized group. High levels of IL-17 and IL-1β in lung tissue of mice from the Immunized+P3C4-1µg group did not promote a predominance of Th17 cells, in contrast, the frequency of TLR2+ cells was increased in immunized mice that received 1 µg of P3C4. The reduction in the relative expression of T-bet and high levels of Foxp3 detected in the lungs of the Immunized+P3C4-1µg group suggest a prevalence of regulatory T cells in the tissue, which did not contribute to the control of C. gattii infection. The immunization protocol associated with 10 µg of adjuvant P3C4 induced high levels of IL-17 in the lung tissue, whereas the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were downregulated. To evaluate the effect of adjuvant P3C4 in the control of C. gattii infection, quantification of the fungal burden in the lungs was performed by the CFU assay, and the groups with adjuvant P3C4 showed a pulmonary C. gattii burden that was not significantly altered when compared with the immunized group. The mice that received 1 µg of adjuvant P3C4 had a lower percentage of inflammatory infiltrate in the lungs. Conclusion The immunomodulatory effect of P3C4, associated with the immunization protocol, plays an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory response in the lungs that did not favor a protection against C. gattii infection, which is related to the immune response characterized by a suppressive/regulatory profile in the pulmonary microenvironment after C. gattii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Yamazaki de Campos
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Júlia Garcia Guimarães
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia Serafim da Costa
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Javier Emílio Lazo Chica
- Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Sharma J, Mudalagiriyappa S, Nanjappa SG. T cell responses to control fungal infection in an immunological memory lens. Front Immunol 2022; 13:905867. [PMID: 36177012 PMCID: PMC9513067 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.905867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, fungal vaccine research emanated significant findings in the field of antifungal T-cell immunity. The generation of effector T cells is essential to combat many mucosal and systemic fungal infections. The development of antifungal memory T cells is integral for controlling or preventing fungal infections, and understanding the factors, regulators, and modifiers that dictate the generation of such T cells is necessary. Despite the deficiency in the clear understanding of antifungal memory T-cell longevity and attributes, in this review, we will compile some of the existing literature on antifungal T-cell immunity in the context of memory T-cell development against fungal infections.
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Becerra-Álvarez P, Escandón P, Lizarazo J, Quirós-Gómez Ó, Firacative C. Cryptococcus neoformans- and Cryptococcus gattii-specific IgG, IgA and IgM differ among children and adults with and without cryptococcosis from Colombia. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6692868. [PMID: 36066645 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) and Cryptococcus gattii (Cg) cause cryptococcosis, a life-threatening systemic mycosis of global distribution affecting mainly immunocompromised adults. Although a humoral response occurs during cryptococcosis, the role of antibody production against this mycosis is not fully understood. We aimed to determine total and specific antibodies against cryptococcal protein antigens in sera from people with and without diagnosis of cryptococcosis from Colombia. Using ELISA, total and specific levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA and IgM were determined in sera from children and adults with (n = 109) and without (n = 119) cryptococcosis. Specific antibodies were those binding Cn- and Cg-protein antigens. In general, the mean of the total IgG production was higher in cryptococcosis patients than in controls (13 942.32 vs. 6459.91 µg/ml), while levels of IgA (488.13 vs. 1564.53 µg/ml) and IgM (775.69 vs. 1014.72 µg/ml) were higher in controls than in cryptococcosis patients (p ≤ 0.05). In patients with cryptococcosis, total IgG, IgA and IgM levels were higher in HIV + compared with HIV- (p ≤ 0.05). Specific antibodies tended to be higher in cryptococcosis patients than in controls and in adults than in children, with a positive correlation between antibody reactivity and age. All immunoglobulins were more reactive against Cn-proteins than Cg-proteins. Overall, a positive weak correlation between total and specific antibodies was found, although not always statistically significant. In patients with cryptococcosis from Colombia, the levels of immunoglobulins, total and specific, differ with respect to people without cryptococcosis. Variations in antibody production among adults and children with cryptococcosis and between Cn- and Cg-protein antigens were as well established. Our findings encourage further studies to determine the role of humoral immunity for host defence against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Becerra-Álvarez
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Patricia Escandón
- Group of Microbiology, National Institute of Health, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Jairo Lizarazo
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz, Universidad de Pamplona, Cúcuta, Colombia
| | - Óscar Quirós-Gómez
- Group of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Carolina Firacative
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
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Normile TG, Del Poeta M. Three Models of Vaccination Strategies Against Cryptococcosis in Immunocompromised Hosts Using Heat-Killed Cryptococcus neoformans Δ sgl1. Front Immunol 2022; 13:868523. [PMID: 35615354 PMCID: PMC9124966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.868523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the greatest medical accomplishments to date, yet no fungal vaccines are currently available in humans mainly because opportunistic mycoses generally occur during immunodeficiencies necessary for vaccine protection. In previous studies, a live, attenuated Cryptococcus neoformans Δsgl1 mutant accumulating sterylglucosides was found to be avirulent and protected mice from a subsequent lethal infection even in absence of CD4+ T cells, a condition most associated with cryptococcosis (e.g., HIV). Here, we tested three strategies of vaccination against cryptococcosis. First, in our preventative model, protection was achieved even after a 3-fold increase of the vaccination window. Second, because live C. neoformans Δsgl1-vaccinated mice challenged more than once with WT strain had a significant decrease in lung fungal burden, we tested C. neoformans Δsgl1 as an immunotherapeutic. We found that therapeutic administrations of HK C. neoformans Δsgl1 post WT challenge significantly improves the lung fungal burden. Similarly, therapeutic administration of HK C. neoformans Δsgl1 post WT challenge resulted in 100% or 70% survival depending on the time of vaccine administration, suggesting that HK Δsgl1 is a robust immunotherapeutic option. Third, we investigated a novel model of vaccination in preventing reactivation from lung granuloma using C. neoformans Δgcs1. Remarkably, we show that administration of HK Δsgl1 prevents mice from reactivating Δgcs1 upon inducing immunosuppression with corticosteroids or by depleting CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that HK Δsgl1 represents a clinically relevant, efficacious vaccine that confers robust host protection in three models of vaccination against cryptococcosis even during CD4-deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G. Normile
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States,Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States,Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Maurizio Del Poeta,
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Oliveira-Brito PKM, de Campos GY, Guimarães JG, Serafim da Costa L, Silva de Moura E, Lazo-Chica JE, Roque-Barreira MC, da Silva TA. Adjuvant Curdlan Contributes to Immunization against Cryptococcus gattii Infection in a Mouse Strain-Specific Manner. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040620. [PMID: 35455369 PMCID: PMC9030172 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The low efficacy and side effects associated with antifungal agents have highlighted the importance of developing immunotherapeutic approaches to treat Cryptococcus gattii infection. We developed an immunization strategy that uses selective Dectin-1 agonist as an adjuvant. BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice received curdlan or β-glucan peptide (BGP) before immunization with heat-killed C. gattii, and the mice were infected with viable C. gattii on day 14 post immunization and euthanized 14 days after infection. Adjuvant curdlan restored pulmonary tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) levels, as induced by immunization with heat-killed C. gattii. The average area and relative frequency of C. gattii titan cells in the lungs of curdlan-treated BALB/c mice were reduced. However, this did not reduce the pulmonary fungal burden or decrease the i0,nflammatory infiltrate in the pulmonary parenchyma of BALB/c mice. Conversely, adjuvant curdlan induced high levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-10 and decreased the C. gattii burden in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice, which was not replicated in β-glucan peptide-treated mice. The adjuvant curdlan favors the control of C. gattii infection depending on the immune response profile of the mouse strain. This study will have implications for developing new immunotherapeutic approaches to treat C. gattii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Kellen Martins Oliveira-Brito
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
| | - Gabriela Yamazaki de Campos
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
| | - Júlia Garcia Guimarães
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
| | - Letícia Serafim da Costa
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 14049-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Edanielle Silva de Moura
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
| | - Javier Emílio Lazo-Chica
- Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-189, MG, Brazil;
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil; (P.K.M.O.-B.); (G.Y.d.C.); (J.G.G.); (E.S.d.M.); (M.C.R.-B.)
- Thiago Aparecido da Silva, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +55-16-3315-3049
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Wang Y, Pawar S, Dutta O, Wang K, Rivera A, Xue C. Macrophage Mediated Immunomodulation During Cryptococcus Pulmonary Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:859049. [PMID: 35402316 PMCID: PMC8987709 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.859049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are key cellular components of innate immunity, acting as the first line of defense against pathogens to modulate homeostatic and inflammatory responses. They help clear pathogens and shape the T-cell response through the production of cytokines and chemokines. The facultative intracellular fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has developed a unique ability to interact with and manipulate host macrophages. These interactions dictate how Cryptococcus infection can remain latent or how dissemination within the host is achieved. In addition, differences in the activities of macrophages have been correlated with differential susceptibilities of hosts to Cryptococcus infection, highlighting the importance of macrophages in determining disease outcomes. There is now abundant information on the interaction between Cryptococcus and macrophages. In this review we discuss recent advances regarding macrophage origin, polarization, activation, and effector functions during Cryptococcus infection. The importance of these strategies in pathogenesis and the potential of immunotherapy for cryptococcosis treatment is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Siddhi Pawar
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Orchi Dutta
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Keyi Wang
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Chaoyang Xue
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
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Elhassan RM, Alsony NM, Othman KM, Izz-Aldin DT, Alhaj TA, Ali AA, Abashir LA, Ahmed OH, Hassan MA. Epitope-Based Immunoinformatic Approach on Heat Shock 70 kDa Protein Complex of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:9921620. [PMID: 34471644 PMCID: PMC8405342 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9921620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cryptococcosis is a ubiquitous opportunistic fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. It has high global morbidity and mortality among HIV patients and non-HIV carriers with 99% and 95%, respectively. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of undesired toxicity profile of antifungal, multidrug-resistant organisms and the scarcity of FDA-authorized vaccines were the hallmark in the present days. This study was undertaken to design a reliable epitope-based peptide vaccine through targeting highly conserved immunodominant heat shock 70 kDa protein of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii that covers a considerable digit of the world population through implementing a computational vaccinology approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 38 sequences of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii's heat shock 70 kDa protein were retrieved from the NCBI protein database. Different prediction tools were used to analyze the aforementioned protein at the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) to discriminate the most promising T-cell and B-cell epitopes. The proposed T-cell epitopes were subjected to the population coverage analysis tool to compute the global population's coverage. Finally, the T-cell projected epitopes were ranked based on their binding scores and modes using AutoDock Vina software. Results and Discussion. The epitopes (ANYVQASEK, QSEKPKNVNPVI, SEKPKNVNPVI, and EKPKNVNPVI) had shown very strong binding affinity and immunogenic properties to B-cell. (FTQLVAAYL, YVYDTRGKL) and (FFGGKVLNF, FINAQLVDV, and FDYALVQHF) exhibited a very strong binding affinity to MHC-I and MHC-II, respectively, with high population coverage for each, while FYRQGAFEL has shown promising results in terms of its binding profile to MHC-II and MHC-I alleles and good strength of binding when docked with HLA-C∗12:03. In addition, there is massive global population coverage in the three coverage modes. Accordingly, our in silico vaccine is expected to be the future epitope-based peptide vaccine against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii that covers a significant figure of the entire world citizens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham M. Elhassan
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sudan International University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Nagla M. Alsony
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Kamlin Ahlia College, Gazira, Sudan
| | - Khadeejah M. Othman
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Abu Huzaifa Health Center, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Duaa T. Izz-Aldin
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Tamadour A. Alhaj
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Abdelrahman A. Ali
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Endemic Disease, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ribat University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Lena A. Abashir
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Pharmacy, Fedail Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Omar H. Ahmed
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gazira, Wad Medany, Sudan
| | - Mohammed A. Hassan
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Bioinformatics, DETAGEN Genetic Diagnostics Center, Kayseri, Turkey
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Gressler AE, Volke D, Firacative C, Schnabel CL, Müller U, Krizsan A, Schulze-Richter B, Brock M, Brombacher F, Escandón P, Hoffmann R, Alber G. Identification of Disease-Associated Cryptococcal Proteins Reactive With Serum IgG From Cryptococcal Meningitis Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:709695. [PMID: 34367172 PMCID: PMC8342929 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.709695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen ubiquitously present in the environment, causes cryptococcal meningitis (CM) mainly in immunocompromised patients, such as AIDS patients. We aimed to identify disease-associated cryptococcal protein antigens targeted by the human humoral immune response. Therefore, we used sera from Colombian CM patients, with or without HIV infection, and from healthy individuals living in the same region. Serological analysis revealed increased titers of anti-cryptococcal IgG in HIV-negative CM patients, but not HIV-positive CM patients, compared to healthy controls. In contrast, titers of anti-cryptococcal IgM were not affected by CM. Furthermore, we detected pre-existing IgG and IgM antibodies even in sera from healthy individuals. The observed induction of anti-cryptococcal IgG but not IgM during CM was supported by analysis of sera from C. neoformans-infected mice. Stronger increase in IgG was found in wild type mice with high lung fungal burden compared to IL-4Rα-deficient mice showing low lung fungal burden. To identify the proteins targeted by human anti-cryptococcal IgG antibodies, we applied a quantitative 2D immunoproteome approach identifying cryptococcal protein spots preferentially recognized by sera from CM patients or healthy individuals followed by mass spectrometry analysis. Twenty-three cryptococcal proteins were recombinantly expressed and confirmed to be immunoreactive with human sera. Fourteen of them were newly described as immunoreactive proteins. Twelve proteins were classified as disease-associated antigens, based on significantly stronger immunoreactivity with sera from CM patients compared to healthy individuals. The proteins identified in our screen significantly expand the pool of cryptococcal proteins with potential for (i) development of novel anti-cryptococcal agents based on implications in cryptococcal virulence or survival, or (ii) development of an anti-cryptococcal vaccine, as several candidates lack homology to human proteins and are localized extracellularly. Furthermore, this study defines pre-existing anti-cryptococcal immunoreactivity in healthy individuals at a molecular level, identifying target antigens recognized by sera from healthy control persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Elisabeth Gressler
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniela Volke
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolina Firacative
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Christiane L Schnabel
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andor Krizsan
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bianca Schulze-Richter
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Brock
- Fungal Genetics and Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Brombacher
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gottfried Alber
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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11
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Oliveira LVN, Wang R, Specht CA, Levitz SM. Vaccines for human fungal diseases: close but still a long way to go. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:33. [PMID: 33658522 PMCID: PMC7930017 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the substantial global burden of human fungal infections, there are no approved fungal vaccines to protect at risk individuals. Here, we review the progress that has been made and the challenges that lie ahead in the quest towards efficacious fungal vaccines. In mouse studies, protection has been achieved with vaccines directed against fungal pathogens, including species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus, that most commonly cause life-threatening human disease. Encouraging results have been obtained with vaccines composed of live-attenuated and killed fungi, crude extracts, recombinant subunit formulations, and nucleic acid vaccines. Novel adjuvants that instruct the immune system to mount the types of protective responses needed to fight mycotic infections are under development. Candidate vaccines include those that target common antigens expressed on multiple genera of fungi thereby protecting against a broad range of mycoses. Encouragingly, three vaccines have reached human clinical trials. Still, formidable obstacles must be overcome before we will have fungal vaccines licensed for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena V N Oliveira
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ruiying Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Charles A Specht
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Stuart M Levitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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12
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Ueno K, Yanagihara N, Shimizu K, Miyazaki Y. Vaccines and Protective Immune Memory against Cryptococcosis. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 43:230-239. [PMID: 32009111 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a potentially lethal disease caused by fungal pathogens including Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complex. These fungal pathogens live in the environment and are associated with certain tree species and bird droppings. This infectious disease is not contagious, and healthy individuals may contract cryptococcal infections by inhaling the airborne pathogens from the environment. Although cleaning a contaminated environment is a feasible approach to control environmental fungal pathogens, prophylactic immunization is also considered a promising method to regulate cryptococcal infections. We review the history of the development of cryptococcal vaccines, vaccine components, and the various forms of immune memory induced by cryptococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Ueno
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Nao Yanagihara
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases.,Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
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13
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Ueno K, Yanagihara N, Otani Y, Shimizu K, Kinjo Y, Miyazaki Y. Neutrophil-mediated antifungal activity against highly virulent Cryptococcus gattii strain R265. Med Mycol 2020; 57:1046-1054. [PMID: 30668754 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune responses, including neutrophil, macrophage, and T-cell responses, ameliorate cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus gattii. However, whether neutrophils can exert fungicidal activity against C. gattii remains to be elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the neutrophil-mediated fungicidal effect against C. gattii R265 in vitro and compared it to the related fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans standard strain H99. We found that neutrophils recognized, phagocytosed, and killed C. gattii R265 in the presence of fresh mouse serum. This antifungal effect required phagocytosis and serine protease activity but not nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity. We also demonstrated that C. gattii R265 was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than C. neoformans H99. Together, these findings indicate that neutrophils can exert fungicidal activity against highly virulent C. gattii, at least under in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Ueno
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Nao Yanagihara
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.,Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Otani
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.,Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinjo
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.,Department of Bacteriology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.,Jikei Center for Biofilm Science and Technology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
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14
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Abstract
The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by fungi is a fundamental cellular process. EVs carry several biomolecules, including pigments, proteins, enzymes, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, and are involved in physiological and pathological processes. EVs may play a pivotal role in the establishment of fungal infections, as they can interact with the host immune system to elicit multiple outcomes. The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by fungi is a fundamental cellular process. EVs carry several biomolecules, including pigments, proteins, enzymes, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, and are involved in physiological and pathological processes. EVs may play a pivotal role in the establishment of fungal infections, as they can interact with the host immune system to elicit multiple outcomes. It has been observed that, depending on the fungal pathogen, EVs can exacerbate or attenuate fungal infections. The study of the interaction between fungal EVs and the host immune system and understanding of the mechanisms that regulate those interactions might be useful for the development of new adjuvants as well as the improvement of protective immune responses against infectious or noninfectious diseases. In this review, we describe the immunomodulatory properties of EVs produced by pathogenic fungi and discuss their potential as adjuvants for prophylactic or therapeutic strategies.
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15
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Cryptococcus neoformans Glucuronoxylomannan and Sterylglucoside Are Required for Host Protection in an Animal Vaccination Model. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02909-18. [PMID: 30940711 PMCID: PMC6445945 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02909-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of deaths from cryptococcal meningitis is around 180,000 per year. The disease is the second leading cause of mortality among individuals with AIDS. Antifungal treatment is costly and associated with adverse effects and resistance, evidencing the urgency of development of both therapeutic and prophylactic tools. Here we demonstrate the key roles of polysaccharide- and glycolipid-containing structures in a vaccination model to prevent cryptococcosis. Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis. There are no prophylactic tools for cryptococcosis. Previously, our group showed that a C. neoformans mutant lacking the gene encoding sterylglucosidase (Δsgl1) induced protection in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised murine models of cryptococcosis. Since sterylglucosidase catalyzes degradation of sterylglucosides (SGs), accumulation of this glycolipid could be responsible for protective immunity. In this study, we analyzed whether the activity of SGs is sufficient for the protective effect induced by the Δsgl1 strain. We observed that the accumulation of SGs impacted several properties of the main polysaccharide that composes the fungal capsule, glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). We therefore used genetic manipulation to delete the SGL1 gene in the acapsular mutant Δcap59 to generate a double mutant (strain Δcap59/Δsgl1) that was shown to be nonpathogenic and cleared from the lung of mice within 7 days post-intranasal infection. The inflammatory immune response triggered by the Δcap59/Δsgl1 mutant in the lung differed from the response seen with the other strains. The double mutant did not induce protection in a vaccination model, suggesting that SG-related protection requires the main capsular polysaccharide. Finally, GXM-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched in SGs delayed the acute lethality of Galleria mellonella against C. neoformans infection. These studies highlighted a key role for GXM and SGs in inducing protection against a secondary cryptococcal infection, and, since EVs notoriously contain GXM, these results suggest the potential use of Δsgl1 EVs as a vaccination strategy for cryptococcosis.
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16
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Caballero Van Dyke MC, Wormley FL. A Call to Arms: Quest for a Cryptococcal Vaccine. Trends Microbiol 2018; 26:436-446. [PMID: 29103990 PMCID: PMC5910246 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide, particularly among AIDS patients. Yet, to date, there are no licensed vaccines clinically available to treat or prevent cryptococcosis. In this review, we provide a rationale to support continued investment in Cryptococcus vaccine research, potential challenges that must be overcome along the way, and a literature review of the current progress underway towards developing a vaccine to prevent cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marley C Caballero Van Dyke
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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17
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Elsegeiny W, Marr KA, Williamson PR. Immunology of Cryptococcal Infections: Developing a Rational Approach to Patient Therapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:651. [PMID: 29670625 PMCID: PMC5893745 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is responsible for upwards of 15% of HIV-related deaths worldwide and is currently the most common cause of non-viral meningitis in the US, affecting both previously healthy and people with immune suppression caused by cancer chemotherapy, transplantation, and biologic therapies. Despite a continued 30-50% attributable mortality, recommended therapeutic strategies have remained largely unchanged since the 1950s. Recent murine models and human studies examining the role of the immune system in both susceptibility to the infection as well as host damage have begun to influence patient care decisions. The Damage Framework Response, originally proposed in 1999, was recently used to discuss dichotomous etiologies of host damage in cryptococcal disease. These include patients suffering microbiological damage with low host immunity (especially those immunosuppressed with HIV) and those having low (live) microbiological burden but high immune-mediated damage (HIV-related immune reconstitution syndrome and non-HIV-related postinfectious inflammatory response syndrome). Cryptococcal disease in previously healthy hosts, albeit rare, has been known for a long time. Immunophenotyping and dendritic cell-T cell signaling studies on cerebral spinal fluid of these rare patients reveal immune capacity for recognition and T-cell activation pathways including increased levels of HLA-DR and CD56. However, despite effective T-cell signals, brain biopsy and autopsy specimens demonstrated an M2 alternative macrophage polarization and poor phagocytosis of fungal cells. These studies expand the paradigm for cryptococcal disease susceptibility to include a prominent role for immune-mediated damage and suggest a need for careful individual consideration of immune activation during therapy of cryptococcal disease in diverse hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Elsegeiny
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Peter R. Williamson
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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18
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Identification of T helper (Th)1- and Th2-associated antigens of Cryptococcus neoformans in a murine model of pulmonary infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2681. [PMID: 29422616 PMCID: PMC5805727 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21039-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, has been demonstrated to be controlled by T helper (Th)1 cells while Th2 cells are associated with fungal growth and dissemination. Although cryptococcal immunoreactive protein antigens were previously identified, their association with Th1 or Th2 immune responses was not provided. In mice, Th1-dependent IFN-γ induces the production of IgG2a, whereas the Th2 cytokine IL-4 stimulates the expression of IgG1 rendering each isotype an indicator of the underlying Th cell response. Therefore, we performed an immunoproteomic study that distinguishes Th1- and Th2-associated antigens by their reactivity with Th1-dependent IgG2a or Th2-dependent IgG1 antibodies in sera from C. neoformans-infected wild-type mice. We additionally analysed sera from Th2-prone IL-12-deficient and Th1-prone IL-4Rα-deficient mice extending the results found in wild-type mice. In total, ten, four, and three protein antigens associated with IgG1, IgG2a, or both isotypes, respectively, were identified. Th2-associated antigens represent promising candidates for development of immunotherapy regimens, whereas Th1-associated antigens may serve as candidates for vaccine development. In conclusion, this study points to intrinsic immunomodulatory effects of fungal antigens on the process of Th cell differentiation based on the identification of cryptococcal protein antigens specifically associated with Th1 or Th2 responses throughout mice of different genotypes.
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19
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Abstract
Cryptococcus is among the most common invasive fungal pathogens globally and is one of the leading causes of acquired immunodeficiency virus-related deaths. Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the most clinically relevant species and account for most cryptococcal disease. Pulmonary manifestations can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening infection. Treatment is tailored based on the severity of pulmonary infection, the presence of disseminated or central nervous system disease, and patient immune status. Amphotericin B and flucytosine followed by fluconazole remain the standard agents for the treatment of severe cryptococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Skolnik
- Division of Respirology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rockyview General Hospital, University of Calgary, Respirology Offices, 7007 14th Street Southwest, Calgary, Alberta T2V 1P9, Canada
| | - Shaunna Huston
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 4AA08, 3330 Hospital Drive Northwest, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Christopher H Mody
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 4AA14, 3330 Hospital Drive Northwest, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Internal Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 4AA14, 3330 Hospital Drive Northwest, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
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20
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Almeida F, Wolf JM, da Silva TA, DeLeon-Rodriguez CM, Rezende CP, Pessoni AM, Fernandes FF, Silva-Rocha R, Martinez R, Rodrigues ML, Roque-Barreira MC, Casadevall A. Galectin-3 impacts Cryptococcus neoformans infection through direct antifungal effects. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1968. [PMID: 29213074 PMCID: PMC5719036 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental infections, as well as in spleen, lung, and brain tissues of infected mice. Gal-3-deficient mice are more susceptible to cryptococcosis than WT animals, as demonstrated by the higher fungal burden and lower animal survival. In vitro experiments show that Gal-3 inhibits fungal growth and exerts a direct lytic effect on C. neoformans extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our results indicate a direct role for Gal-3 in antifungal immunity whereby this molecule affects the outcome of C. neoformans infection by inhibiting fungal growth and reducing EV stability, which in turn could benefit the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Julie M Wolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Carlos M DeLeon-Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Caroline Patini Rezende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - André Moreira Pessoni
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freitas Fernandes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Martinez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes,, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, 21041-361, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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21
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Ledur PC, Tondolo JSM, Jesus FPK, Verdi CM, Loreto ÉS, Alves SH, Santurio JM. Dendritic cells pulsed with Pythium insidiosum (1,3)(1,6)-β-glucan, Heat-inactivated zoospores and immunotherapy prime naïve T cells to Th1 differentiation in vitro. Immunobiology 2017; 223:294-299. [PMID: 29074300 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2017.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pythiosis is a life-threatening disease caused by the fungus-like microorganism Pythium insidiosum that can lead to death if not treated. Since P. insidiosum has particular cell wall characteristics, pythiosis is difficult to treat, as it does not respond well to traditional antifungal drugs. In our study, we investigated a new immunotherapeutic approach with potential use in treatment and in the acquisition of immunity against pythiosis. Dendritic cells from both human and mouse, pulsed with P. insidiosum heat-inactivated zoospore, (1,3)(1,6)-β-glucan and the immunotherapeutic PitiumVac® efficiently induced naïve T cell differentiation in a Th1 phenotype by the activation of specific Th1 cytokine production in vitro. Heat-inactivated zoospores showed the greatest Th1 response among the tested groups, with a significant increase in IL-6 and IFN-γ production in human cells. In mice cells, we also observed a Th17 pathway induction, with an increase on the IL-17A levels in lymphocytes cultured with β-glucan pulsed DCs. These results suggest a potential use of DCs pulsed with P. insidiosum antigens as a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment and acquisition of immunity against pythiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline C Ledur
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Juliana S M Tondolo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Francielli P K Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Camila M Verdi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Érico S Loreto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Sydney H Alves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Orgânica, Laboratório de Processos Tecnológicos e Catálise, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Janio M Santurio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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22
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Antifungal Resistance, Metabolic Routes as Drug Targets, and New Antifungal Agents: An Overview about Endemic Dimorphic Fungi. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:9870679. [PMID: 28694566 PMCID: PMC5485324 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9870679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases caused by fungi can occur in healthy people, but immunocompromised patients are the major risk group for invasive fungal infections. Cases of fungal resistance and the difficulty of treatment make fungal infections a public health problem. This review explores mechanisms used by fungi to promote fungal resistance, such as the mutation or overexpression of drug targets, efflux and degradation systems, and pleiotropic drug responses. Alternative novel drug targets have been investigated; these include metabolic routes used by fungi during infection, such as trehalose and amino acid metabolism and mitochondrial proteins. An overview of new antifungal agents, including nanostructured antifungals, as well as of repositioning approaches is discussed. Studies focusing on the development of vaccines against antifungal diseases have increased in recent years, as these strategies can be applied in combination with antifungal therapy to prevent posttreatment sequelae. Studies focused on the development of a pan-fungal vaccine and antifungal drugs can improve the treatment of immunocompromised patients and reduce treatment costs.
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Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, the predominant etiological agents of cryptococcosis, are fungal pathogens that cause disease ranging from a mild pneumonia to life-threatening infections of the central nervous system (CNS). C. neoformans is widely considered an opportunistic fungal pathogen which targets individuals with impaired immune systems, while C. gattii is predominantly associated with fungal infections in immunocompetent individuals. However, C. neoformans and C. gattii have certainly been identified as the causative agent of cryptococcosis in both immune compromised and immune competent individuals. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) by T-helper (Th) 1-type CD4+ T cells is the predominant host defense mechanism against cryptococcosis. Consequently, there has been great interest in identifying cryptococcal antigens that elicit protective CMI against Cryptococcus infection. Although many different cryptococcal proteins have been shown to stimulate potent cellular responses, there remains no standardized vaccine available for the prevention of cryptococcal infections in humans. Several studies have identified immunodominant antigens that may serve as attractive candidates for the development of novel subunit vaccines for the treatment and/or the prevention of cryptococcosis. The purpose of this chapter is to describe one methodology to screen and isolate cryptocococcal proteins that induce protective immune responses against cryptococossis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Chaturvedi
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249-0062, USA.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249-0062, USA. .,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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Ueno K, Urai M, Takatsuka S, Abe M, Miyazaki Y, Kinjo Y. Immunization with Antigen-Pulsed Dendritic Cells Against Highly Virulent Cryptococcus gattii Infection: Analysis of Cytokine-Producing T Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1625:327-339. [PMID: 28585000 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7104-6_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis caused by highly virulent Cryptococcus gattii (Hv-Cg) is an emerging infectious disease that affects immunocompetent individuals. The Hv-Cg outbreak began in 1999, but the mechanisms responsible for its hyper-virulence as well as protective immunity against Hv-Cg infection remain to be elucidated. To better understand the protective immunity against Hv-Cg infection, we developed a novel immunization method using antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). We constructed a capsule-deficient Cg strain (∆cap60) and used it as a vaccine antigen. Mouse bone marrow-derived DCs were pulsed with ∆cap60 and transferred into mice twice before pulmonary infection with Hv-Cg strain R265. This DC-based immunization strongly induced cell-mediated immunity, including Th1 cells, Th17 cells, and multinucleated giant cells enclosing fungal cells in lungs. This vaccination significantly ameliorated the fungal burden and the survival rate after pulmonary infection with R265. The efficacy of DC-based immunization was significantly but partially reduced in IFNγ-deficient mice, thereby suggesting that the Th1 and Th17 responses play roles in vaccine-induced protection against Hv-Cg infection. This approach might provide new insights into overcoming Hv-Cg infections in immunocompetent subjects. In this chapter, we describe the procedures for DC-vaccine preparation and the analysis of cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Ueno
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Makoto Urai
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Shogo Takatsuka
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Masahiro Abe
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinjo
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
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Ueno K, Urai M, Ohkouchi K, Miyazaki Y, Kinjo Y. Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine Against Fungal Infection. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1403:537-49. [PMID: 27076152 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3387-7_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Several pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus gattii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, and Penicillium marneffei, cause serious infectious diseases in immunocompetent humans. However, currently, prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are not clinically used. In particular, C. gattii is an emerging pathogen and thus far protective immunity against this pathogen has not been well characterized. Experimental vaccines such as component and attenuated live vaccines have been used as tools to study protective immunity against fungal infection. Recently, we developed a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine to study protective immunity against pulmonary infection by highly virulent C. gattii strain R265 that was clinically isolated from bronchial washings of infected patients during the Vancouver Island outbreak. In this approach, bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) are pulsed with heat-killed C. gattii and then transferred into mice prior to intratracheal infection. This DC vaccine significantly increases interleukin 17A (IL-17A)-, interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-producing T cells in the lungs and spleen and ameliorates the pathology, fungal burden, and mortality following C. gattii infection. This approach may result in the development of a new means of controlling lethal fungal infections. In this chapter, we describe the procedures of DC vaccine preparation and murine pulmonary infection model for analysis of immune response against C. gattii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Ueno
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Urai
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kayo Ohkouchi
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinjo
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
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Abstract
Fungal organisms are ubiquitous in the environment. Pathogenic fungi, although relatively few in the whole gamut of microbial pathogens, are able to cause disease with varying degrees of severity in individuals with normal or impaired immunity. The disease state is an outcome of the fungal pathogen's interactions with the host immunity, and therefore, it stands to reason that deep/invasive fungal diseases be amenable to immunotherapy. Therefore, antifungal immunotherapy continues to be attractive as an adjunct to the currently available antifungal chemotherapy options for a number of reasons, including the fact that existing antifungal drugs, albeit largely effective, are not without limitations, and that morbidity and mortality associated with invasive mycoses are still unacceptably high. For several decades, intense basic research efforts have been directed at development of fungal immunotherapies. Nevertheless, this approach suffers from a severe bench-bedside disconnect owing to several reasons: the chemical and biological peculiarities of the fungal antigens, the complexities of host-pathogen interactions, an under-appreciation of the fungal disease landscape, the requirement of considerable financial investment to bring these therapies to clinical use, as well as practical problems associated with immunizations. In this general, non-exhaustive review, we summarize the features of ongoing research efforts directed towards devising safe and effective immunotherapeutic options for mycotic diseases, encompassing work on antifungal vaccines, adoptive cell transfers, cytokines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and other agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kausik Datta
- a Division of Infectious Diseases , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA , and
| | - Mawieh Hamad
- b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Sharjah Institute for Medical Research , University of Sharjah , Sharjah , UAE
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Glucosylceramide Administration as a Vaccination Strategy in Mouse Models of Cryptococcosis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153853. [PMID: 27082428 PMCID: PMC4833283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and the causative agent of the disease cryptococcosis. Cryptococcosis is initiated as a pulmonary infection and in conditions of immune deficiency disseminates to the blood stream and central nervous system, resulting in life-threatening meningoencephalitis. A number of studies have focused on the development of a vaccine against Cryptococcus, primarily utilizing protein-conjugated components of the Cryptococcus polysaccharide capsule as antigen. However, there is currently no vaccine against Cryptococcus in the clinic. Previous studies have shown that the glycosphingolipid, glucosylceramide (GlcCer), is a virulence factor in C. neoformans and antibodies against this lipid inhibit fungal growth and cell division. In the present study, we have investigated the possibility of using GlcCer as a therapeutic agent against C. neoformans infections in mouse models of cryptococcosis. GlcCer purified from a non-pathogenic fungus, Candida utilis, was administered intraperitoneally, prior to infecting mice with a lethal dose of C. neoformans. GlcCer administration prevented the dissemination of C. neoformans from the lungs to the brain and led to 60% mouse survival. GlcCer administration did not cause hepatic injury and elicited an anti-GlcCer antibody response, which was observed independent of the route of administration and the strains of mouse. Taken together, our results suggest that fungal GlcCer can protect mice against lethal doses of C. neoformans infection and can provide a viable vaccination strategy against Cryptococcus.
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Leopold Wager CM, Hole CR, Wozniak KL, Wormley FL. Cryptococcus and Phagocytes: Complex Interactions that Influence Disease Outcome. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:105. [PMID: 26903984 PMCID: PMC4746234 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are fungal pathogens that cause life-threatening disease. These fungi commonly enter their host via inhalation into the lungs where they encounter resident phagocytes, including macrophages and dendritic cells, whose response has a pronounced impact on the outcome of disease. Cryptococcus has complex interactions with the resident and infiltrating innate immune cells that, ideally, result in destruction of the yeast. These phagocytic cells have pattern recognition receptors that allow recognition of specific cryptococcal cell wall and capsule components. However, Cryptococcus possesses several virulence factors including a polysaccharide capsule, melanin production and secretion of various enzymes that aid in evasion of the immune system or enhance its ability to thrive within the phagocyte. This review focuses on the intricate interactions between the cryptococci and innate phagocytic cells including discussion of manipulation and evasion strategies used by Cryptococcus, anti-cryptococcal responses by the phagocytes and approaches for targeting phagocytes for the development of novel immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissy M Leopold Wager
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Camaron R Hole
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
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29
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Panackal AA, Williamson KC, van de Beek D, Boulware DR, Williamson PR. Fighting the Monster: Applying the Host Damage Framework to Human Central Nervous System Infections. mBio 2016; 7:e01906-15. [PMID: 26814182 PMCID: PMC4742705 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01906-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The host damage-response framework states that microbial pathogenesis is a product of microbial virulence factors and collateral damage from host immune responses. Immune-mediated host damage is particularly important within the size-restricted central nervous system (CNS), where immune responses may exacerbate cerebral edema and neurological damage, leading to coma and death. In this review, we compare human host and therapeutic responses in representative nonviral generalized CNS infections that induce archetypal host damage responses: cryptococcal menigoencephalitis and tuberculous meningitis in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients, pneumococcal meningitis, and cerebral malaria. Consideration of the underlying patterns of host responses provides critical insights into host damage and may suggest tailored adjunctive therapeutics to improve disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil A Panackal
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kim C Williamson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Diederik van de Beek
- Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David R Boulware
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter R Williamson
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Protection against Experimental Cryptococcosis following Vaccination with Glucan Particles Containing Cryptococcus Alkaline Extracts. mBio 2015; 6:e01905-15. [PMID: 26695631 PMCID: PMC4701832 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01905-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine capable of protecting at-risk persons against infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii could reduce the substantial global burden of human cryptococcosis. Vaccine development has been hampered though, by lack of knowledge as to which antigens are immunoprotective and the need for an effective vaccine delivery system. We made alkaline extracts from mutant cryptococcal strains that lacked capsule or chitosan. The extracts were then packaged into glucan particles (GPs), which are purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls composed primarily of β-1,3-glucans. Subcutaneous vaccination with the GP-based vaccines provided significant protection against subsequent pulmonary infection with highly virulent strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii. The alkaline extract derived from the acapsular strain was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the most abundant proteins were identified. Separation of the alkaline extract by size exclusion chromatography revealed fractions that conferred protection when loaded in GP-based vaccines. Robust Th1- and Th17-biased CD4+ T cell recall responses were observed in the lungs of vaccinated and infected mice. Thus, our preclinical studies have indicated promising cryptococcal vaccine candidates in alkaline extracts delivered in GPs. Ongoing studies are directed at identifying the individual components of the extracts that confer protection and thus would be promising candidates for a human vaccine. The encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and its closely related sister species, Cryptococcus gattii, are major causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised persons. This study reports on the preclinical development of vaccines to protect at-risk populations from cryptococcosis. Antigens were extracted from Cryptococcus by treatment with an alkaline solution. The extracted antigens were then packaged into glucan particles, which are hollow yeast cell walls composed mainly of β-glucans. The glucan particle-based vaccines elicited robust T cell immune responses and protected mice from otherwise-lethal challenge with virulent strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii. The technology used for antigen extraction and subsequent loading into the glucan particle delivery system is relatively simple and can be applied to vaccine development against other pathogens.
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31
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Martinez LR. Commentary: Role of Sterylglucosidase 1 (Sgl1) on the pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans: potential applications for vaccine development. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1112. [PMID: 26500643 PMCID: PMC4599045 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luis R Martinez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY, USA
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32
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Rella A, Mor V, Farnoud AM, Singh A, Shamseddine AA, Ivanova E, Carpino N, Montagna MT, Luberto C, Del Poeta M. Role of Sterylglucosidase 1 (Sgl1) on the pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans: potential applications for vaccine development. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:836. [PMID: 26322039 PMCID: PMC4531891 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii affects a large population and is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Despite its public health burden, there are currently no vaccines against cryptococcosis and new strategies against such infections are needed. In this study, we demonstrate that C. neoformans has the biochemical ability to metabolize sterylglucosides (SGs), a class of immunomodulatory glycolipids. Genetic manipulations that eliminate cryptococccal sterylglucosidase lead to the accumulation of SGs and generate a mutant strain (Δsgl1) that is non-pathogenic in the mouse models of cryptococcosis. Interestingly, this mutant strain acts as a vaccine strain and protects mice against cryptococcosis following infection with C. neoformans or C. gattii. The immunity induced by the Δsgl1 strain is not CD4+ T-cells dependent. Immunocompromised mice, which lack CD4+ T-cells, are able to control the infection by Δsgl1 and acquire immunity against the challenge by wild-type C. neoformans following vaccination with the Δsgl1 strain. These findings are particularly important in the context of HIV/AIDS immune deficiency and suggest that the Δsgl1 strain might provide a potential vaccination strategy against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Rella
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Visesato Mor
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Amir M Farnoud
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | | | - Elitza Ivanova
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Carpino
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Maria T Montagna
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Chiara Luberto
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY, USA
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Panackal AA, Wuest SC, Lin YC, Wu T, Zhang N, Kosa P, Komori M, Blake A, Browne SK, Rosen LB, Hagen F, Meis J, Levitz SM, Quezado M, Hammoud D, Bennett JE, Bielekova B, Williamson PR. Paradoxical Immune Responses in Non-HIV Cryptococcal Meningitis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004884. [PMID: 26020932 PMCID: PMC4447450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Cryptococcus is a major cause of meningoencephalitis in HIV-infected as well as HIV-uninfected individuals with mortalities in developed countries of 20% and 30%, respectively. In HIV-related disease, defects in T-cell immunity are paramount, whereas there is little understanding of mechanisms of susceptibility in non-HIV related disease, especially that occurring in previously healthy adults. The present description is the first detailed immunological study of non-HIV-infected patients including those with severe central nervous system (s-CNS) disease to 1) identify mechanisms of susceptibility as well as 2) understand mechanisms underlying severe disease. Despite the expectation that, as in HIV, T-cell immunity would be deficient in such patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunophenotyping, T-cell activation studies, soluble cytokine mapping and tissue cellular phenotyping demonstrated that patients with s-CNS disease had effective microbiological control, but displayed strong intrathecal expansion and activation of cells of both the innate and adaptive immunity including HLA-DR+ CD4+ and CD8+ cells and NK cells. These expanded CSF T cells were enriched for cryptococcal-antigen specific CD4+ cells and expressed high levels of IFN-γ as well as a lack of elevated CSF levels of typical T-cell specific Th2 cytokines -- IL-4 and IL-13. This inflammatory response was accompanied by elevated levels of CSF NFL, a marker of axonal damage, consistent with ongoing neurological damage. However, while tissue macrophage recruitment to the site of infection was intact, polarization studies of brain biopsy and autopsy specimens demonstrated an M2 macrophage polarization and poor phagocytosis of fungal cells. These studies thus expand the paradigm for cryptococcal disease susceptibility to include a prominent role for macrophage activation defects and suggest a spectrum of disease whereby severe neurological disease is characterized by immune-mediated host cell damage. Cryptococcus is an important cause of fungal meningitis with significant mortality globally. Susceptibility to the fungus in humans has been related to T-lymphocyte defects in HIV-infected individuals, but little is known about possible immune defects in non HIV-infected patients including previously healthy individuals. This latter group also has some of the worst response rates to therapy with almost a third dying in the United States, despite available therapy. Here we conducted the first detailed immunological analysis of non-HIV apparently immunocompetent individuals with active cryptococcal disease. In contrast to HIV-infected individuals, these studies identified a highly activated antigen-presenting dendritic cell population within CSF, accompanied by a highly active T-lymphocyte population with potentially damaging inflammatory cytokine responses. Furthermore, elevated levels of CSF neurofilament light chains (NFL), a marker of axonal damage in severe central nervous system infections suggest a dysfunctional role to this acute inflammatory state. Paradoxically, CSF macrophage proportions were reduced in patients with severe disease and biopsy and autopsy samples identified alternatively activated tissue macrophage populations that failed to appropriately phagocytose fungal cells. Our study thus provides new insights into the susceptibility to human cryptococcal disease and identifies a paradoxically active T-lymphocyte response that may be amenable to adjunctive immunomodulation to improve treatment outcomes in this high-mortality disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil A. Panackal
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, F. Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Simone C. Wuest
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yen-Chih Lin
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tianxia Wu
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nannan Zhang
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Peter Kosa
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mika Komori
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew Blake
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah K. Browne
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lindsey B. Rosen
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Martha Quezado
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dima Hammoud
- Center for Infectious Disease Imaging, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John E. Bennett
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bibi Bielekova
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BB); (PRW)
| | - Peter R. Williamson
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BB); (PRW)
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Dendritic cell-based immunization ameliorates pulmonary infection with highly virulent Cryptococcus gattii. Infect Immun 2015; 83:1577-86. [PMID: 25644007 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02827-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis due to a highly virulent fungus, Cryptococcus gattii, emerged as an infectious disease on Vancouver Island in Canada and surrounding areas in 1999, causing deaths among immunocompetent individuals. Previous studies indicated that C. gattii strain R265 isolated from the Canadian outbreak had immune avoidance or immune suppression capabilities. However, protective immunity against C. gattii has not been identified. In this study, we used a gain-of-function approach to investigate the protective immunity against C. gattii infection using a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) efficiently engulfed acapsular C. gattii (Δcap60 strain), which resulted in their expression of costimulatory molecules and inflammatory cytokines. This was not observed for BMDCs that were cultured with encapsulated strains. When Δcap60 strain-pulsed BMDCs were transferred to mice prior to intratracheal R265 infection, significant amelioration of pathology, fungal burden, and the survival rate resulted compared with those in controls. Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) that engulfed fungal cells were significantly increased in the lungs of immunized mice. Interleukin 17A (IL-17A)-, gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-producing lymphocytes were significantly increased in the spleens and lungs of immunized mice. The protective effect of this DC vaccine was significantly reduced in IFN-γ knockout mice. These results demonstrated that an increase in cytokine-producing lymphocytes and the development of MGCs that engulfed fungal cells were associated with the protection against pulmonary infection with highly virulent C. gattii and suggested that IFN-γ may have been an important mediator for this vaccine-induced protection.
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35
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Gibson JF, Johnston SA. Immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii during cryptococcosis. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 78:76-86. [PMID: 25498576 PMCID: PMC4503824 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of infection with cryptococcal species occurs with Cryptococcus neoformans in the severely immunocompromised. A significant exception to this is the infections of those with apparently normal immune systems by Cryptococcus gattii. Susceptibility to cryptococcosis can be broadly categorised as a defect in adaptive immune responses, especially in T cell immunity. However, innate immune cells such as macrophages play a key role and are likely the primary effector cell in the killing and ultimate clearance of cryptococcal infection. In this review we discuss the current state of our understanding of how the immune system responds to cryptococcal infection in health and disease, with reference to the work communicated at the 9th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC9). We have focussed on cell mediated responses, particularly early in infection, but with the aim of presenting a broad overview of our understanding of immunity to cryptococcal infection, highlighting some recent advances and offering some perspectives on future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie F Gibson
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Medical School, University of Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK; Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Simon A Johnston
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Medical School, University of Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK; Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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