Phosphorus-rich structures and capsular architecture in Cryptococcus neoformans. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramos, Caroline L; Gomes, Fabio M; Girard-Dias, Wendell; Almeida, Fernando P; Albuquerque, Priscila C; Kretschmer, Matthias; Kronstad, James W; Frases, Susana; de Souza, Wanderley; Rodrigues, Marcio L; Miranda, Kildare
• Is Part Of: Future microbiology. Volume 12:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: capsule -- Cryptococcus -- polyphosphate; Microbiology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0913

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship of phosphorus-rich structures with surface architecture in Cryptococcus neoformans .Methods: Phosphorus-rich structures in C. neoformans were analyzed by combining fluorescence microscopy, biochemical extraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe x-ray microanalysis and 3D reconstruction of high pressure frozen and freeze substituted cells by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM).Results & conclusion: Intracellular and surface phosphorus-enriched structures were identified. These molecules were required for capsule assembly, as demonstrated in experiments using polysaccharide incorporation by capsule-deficient cells and mutants with defects in polyphosphate synthesis. The demonstration of intracellular and cell wall-associated polyphosphates in C. neoformans may lead to future studies involving their participation in both physiologic and pathogenic events.