Human IgM Inhibits the Formation of Titan-Like Cells in Cryptococcus neoformans
Nuria Trevijano‐Contador, Kaila M. Pianalto, Connie B. Nichols, Óscar Zaragoza, J. Andrew Alspaugh, Liise-anne Pirofski
Abstract
Human studies have shown associations between cryptococcal meningitis and reduced IgM memory B cell levels, and studies in IgM- and/or B cell-deficient mice have demonstrated increased Cryptococcus neoformans dissemination from lungs to brain. Since immunoglobulins are part of the immune milieu that C. neoformans confronts in a human host, and its ability to form titan cells is an important virulence mechanism, we determined the effect of human immunoglobulins on C. neoformans titan cell formation in vitro .
Topics & Concepts
Cryptococcus neoformansBiologyMicrobiologyCryptococcosisCryptococcusTitan (rocket family)Immunoglobulin MVirologyImmunologyAntigenImmunoglobulin GAstrobiologyFungal Infections and StudiesAntifungal resistance and susceptibilityCytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research