| Full text | |
| Author(s): Show less - |
Almeida, Fausto
[1]
;
Wolf, Julie M.
[2]
;
da Silva, Thiago Aparecido
[3]
;
DeLeon-Rodriguez, Carlos M.
[2]
;
Rezende, Caroline Patini
[1]
;
Pessoni, Andre Moreira
[1]
;
Fernandes, Fabricio Freitas
[3]
;
Silva-Rocha, Rafael
[3]
;
Martinez, Roberto
[4]
;
Rodrigues, Marcio L.
[5, 6]
;
Roque-Barreira, Maria Cristina
[3]
;
Casadevall, Arturo
[7]
Total Authors: 12
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Biochem & Immunol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Yeshiva Univ, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Albert Einstein Coll Med, New York, NY 10461 - USA
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Cellular & Mol Biol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Internal Med, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, BR-14048900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[5] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Microbiol Paulo de Goes, BR-21941902 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil
[6] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz Fiocruz, CDTS, BR-21041361 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil
[7] Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Mol Microbiol & Immunol, Baltimore, MD 21205 - USA
Total Affiliations: 7
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | NATURE COMMUNICATIONS; v. 8, DEC 6 2017. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 19 |
| Abstract | |
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian beta-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. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/03322-7 - Role of galectin-3 in the Cryptococcus neoformans infection |
| Grantee: | Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/15055-3 - Role of galectin-3 in the Cryptococcus neoformans infection |
| Grantee: | Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers |