Intraspecies diversity of Cryptococcus albidus isolated from humans as revealed by sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions

The basidiomycetous yeast, Cryptococcus albidus, shows intraspecies diversity, but it is rarely isolated from immunocompromised patients. Nineteen strains of C. albidus, including nine clinical isolates, were re-classified by sequences of their rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The nine clinical isolates were genetically diverse and included both C. albidus and C. diffluens. One clinical isolate, recovered from the blood of an AIDS patient, represented a new species. Only small differences were found in the biochemical and serological characteristics of C. albidus and C. diffluens. All isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B, but several isolates were resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole. C. albidus heterogeneity should be taken into consideration when identifying clinical isolates.     

In vitro susceptibility to antifungal agents of environmental Cryptococcus spp. isolated in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Infections by Cryptococcus strains other than C. neoformans have been detected in immunocompromised patients. Of these strains, three are considered human pathogens: C. albidus, C. laurenttii, and C. uniguttulatus. This study deals with the in vitro susceptibility of Cryptococcus to drugs such as amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole, and 5-fluorocytosine. Environmental Cryptococcus isolates (50) distributed as follows: C. neoformans var. neoformans (16), C. albidus (17), C. laurentii (14), and C. uniguttulatus (3) were evaluated by the micro and macrodilution techniques, according to EUCAST and NCCLS recommendations, respectively. Considering both methodologies the respective minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 0.125 and 2 microg/ml for amphotericin B, 0.06 and 8 microg/ml for itraconazole, and 0.5 and more than 64 microg/ml for fluconazole and 5-fluorocytosine. Agreement percentages for the two methodologies were 100% for amphotericin B and fluconazole for all the strains tested. For itraconazole, the agreement percentage was 81.3% in the C. neoformans strain and 100% for all the others. All species had a agreement percentage of 94.1 to 100% when susceptibility to 5-fluorocytosine was tested. It is concluded that environmental isolates of C. neoformans var. neoformans, C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. uniguttulatus may show high MICs against certain drugs, suggesting in vitro primary resistance to the antifungals tested.     

Protection of melanized Cryptococcus neoformans from lethal dose gamma irradiation involves changes in melanin's chemical structure and paramagnetism

Certain fungi thrive in highly radioactive environments including the defunct Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans), which uses L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to produce melanin, was used here to investigate how gamma radiation under aqueous aerobic conditions affects the properties of melanin, with the aim of gaining insight into its radioprotective role. Exposure of melanized fungal cell in aqueous suspensions to doses of γ-radiation capable of killing 50 to 80% of the cells did not lead to a detectable loss of melanin integrity according to EPR spectra of melanin radicals. Moreover, upon UV-visible (Xe-lamp) illumination of melanized cells, the increase in radical population was unchanged after γ-irradiation. Gamma-irradiation of frozen cell suspensions and storage of samples for several days at 77 K however, produced melanin modification noted by a reduced radical population and reduced photoresponse. More direct evidence for structural modification of melanin came from the detection of soluble products with absorbance maxima near 260 nm in supernatants collected after γ-irradiation of cells and cell-free melanin. These products, which include thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive aldehydes, were also generated by Fenton reagent treatment of cells and cell-free melanin. In an assay of melanin integrity based on the metal (Bi(+3)) binding capacity of cells, no detectable loss in binding was detected after γ-irradiation. Our results show that melanin in C. neoformans cells is susceptible to some damage by hydroxyl radical formed in lethal radioactive aqueous environments and serves a protective role in melanized fungi that involves sacrificial breakdown.     

The isolation and characterization of virulence factors of Cryptococcus spp. from saprophytic sources in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Yeasts of the Cryptococcus genus are distributed in nature associated to animal and vegetal organic residues. Occasionally, species other than C. neoformans may be responsible for infectious diseases in human and animals. This study aims to determine the occurrence of Cryptococcus species in the atmosphere and bird droppings in the city of Ribeir?o Preto, S?o Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate three virulence factors: capsule formation, growth at 37 degrees C and melanin production. We analyzed 86 environmental samples (54 droppings and 32 air). Of the 41 strains isolated, 15 were C. neoformans var. neoformans (12 droppings and 3 air), 15 C. albidus (12 droppings and 3 air), 9 C. laurentii (7 droppings and 2 air) and 2 C. uniguttulatus (from droppings). Capsules were produced by 93.3% of C. neoformans var. neoformans, 66.7% of C. albidus, 88.9% of C. laurentii and 50% (1/2) of C. uniguttulatus. All strains of C. neoformans, 20% of C. albidus and 44.4% of C. laurentii were able to grow at 37 degrees C. The melanin production on DOPA agar was verified in C. neoformans (93.3%), C. albidus (26.7%) and C. laurentii (66.7%). We concluded that different Cryptococcus species coexist in the same ecological niche and they are able to produce virulence factors.     

Diversity among strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii as revealed by a sequence analysis of multiple genes and a chemotype analysis of capsular polysaccharide.

We demonstrated the diversity of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii strains by a sequence analysis of multiple genes: (i) the intergenic spacer (IGS) 1 and 2 regions of the rRNA gene; (ii) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, including 5.8S of the rRNA gene; (iii) TOP1 (topoisomerase); and (iv) CAP59. In these studies, we compared C. neoformans var. gattii with varieties grubii, and neoformans of C. neoformans. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that both C. neoformans var. grubii and C neoformans var. neoformans are monophyletic, but C. neoformans var. gattii showed polyphyletic. C. neoformans var. gattii can be divided into three phylogenetic groups, I, II, and III, with high bootstrap support. Phylogenetic group I contains serotype B and C strains, and groups II and III include serotype B strains. Because the serotype B strains of C. neoformans var. gattii exhibited more genetic divergence, the serological characteristics and chemotypes of their capsular polysaccharide were further investigated. No remarkable difference among the serotype B strains was found in the reactivities to factor serum 5, which is specific for serotype B. The NMR spectra of the capsular polysaccharide from serotype B strains could be divided into three characteristic patterns, but the chemical shifts were very similar. These results suggested that the serotype B strain of C. neoformans var. gattii has more genetic diversity than the serotype C strain of C. neoformans var. gattii or the varieties grubii and neoformans of C. neoformans, but there was no correlation between genotype and chemotype.     

The effects of gamma radiation, UV and visible light on ATP levels in yeast cells depend on cellular melanization

Previously we have shown that growth of melanized fungi is stimulated by low levels of gamma radiation. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of visible light, UV light, and gamma radiation on the energy level (ATP concentration) in melanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells. Melanized C. neoformans cells as well as non-melanized controls were subjected to visible, UV or gamma radiation, and ATP was quantified by measuring the amount of light emitted by the ATP-dependent reaction of luciferase with luciferin. We found that all three forms of radiation led to a reduction in the ATP levels in melanized C. neoformans cells. This points to a universal melanin-related mechanism underlying observation of ATP decrease in irradiated melanized cells. In contrast, in non-melanized cells visible light led to increase in ATP levels; gamma radiation did not cause any changes while UV exposure resulted in some ATP decrease, however, much less pronounced than in melanized cells.     

Comparison of serological and chemical characteristics of capsular polysaccharides of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans serotype A and Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus

The antigenic formula and chemical structure of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus (C. albidus) were studied in relation to those of C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A (C. neoformans A). The results of slide agglutination tests with factor sera and reciprocal adsorption experiments showed that antigenic formula of C. albidus was the same as that of C. neoformans A. The soluble CPSs from the two species were obtained from culture supernatants by precipitation with ethanol followed by purification by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose column. The structural analyses of such CPSs from the two species showed that the antigenic CPS fractions consisted of a backbone of alpha(1-3)-linked D-mannopyranosyl residues with a single branch of beta(1-2)-xylose or glucuronic acid, and mostly with O-acetyl groups, in which side chains and O-acetyl groups were responsible for antigenic specificity. It was found that there was a minor difference between the CPS of C. neoformans A and that of C. albidus; in the former, unsubstituted mannose residues existed in a low frequency, but in the latter none. Moreover, the 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of partially hydrolyzed acidic fragments of the two CPSs indicated that two xylose side chains were present between glucuronic acid side chains. Taken together, it was suggested that these two species of C. neoformans A and C. albidus are closely related to each other in their CPSs.     

Cryptococcus spp. DNA extraction from environmental samples

The genus Cryptococcus encompasses 38 species, but only 3 are associated with disease in humans and animals, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus neoformans. The last one is the most frequently reported. The disease is acquired by the inhalation of infectious propagules present in the environment. The habitat has been established using extraction techniques with buffer supplemented with antibiotics and plating in selective media. The aim of this work was to evaluate several DNA extraction techniques for Cryptocococus spp. from environmental samples. The control isolates were C. neoformans, C. albidus, C. laurentii and Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis. We also used vermiculita and soil samples contaminated with different yeast concentrations (10 to 10(6) cells/g) and samples naturally contaminated with C. neoformans. DNA was extracted with physical and chemical methods and with a commercial kit, and the DNA was purified with agarose blocks and silica columns. For the PCR amplification we used the CN4-CN5 primers, which are specific for C. neoformans. Only the commercial kit allowed DNA extraction and amplification from contaminated soil samples up to a concentration of 10 cells/g and from one sample naturally colonized. With this work we extracted and amplified DNA from Cryptococcus spp. from environmental samples with appropriate PCR specificity, it will be a tool to establish the ecological areas of C. neoformans in our country.     

Fungal melanins differ in planar stacking distances

Melanins are notoriously difficult to study because they are amorphous, insoluble and often associated with other biological materials. Consequently, there is a dearth of structural techniques to study this enigmatic pigment. Current models of melanin structure envision the stacking of planar structures. X ray diffraction has historically been used to deduce stacking parameters. In this study we used X ray diffraction to analyze melanins derived from Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus niger, Wangiella dermatitides and Coprinus comatus. Analysis of melanin in melanized C. neoformans encapsulated cells was precluded by the fortuitous finding that the capsular polysaccharide had a diffraction spectrum that was similar to that of isolated melanin. The capsular polysaccharide spectrum was dominated by a broad non-Bragg feature consistent with origin from a repeating structural motif that may arise from inter-molecular interactions and/or possibly gel organization. Hence, we isolated melanin from each fungal species and compared diffraction parameters. The results show that the inferred stacking distances of fungal melanins differ from that reported for synthetic melanin and neuromelanin, occupying intermediate position between these other melanins. These results suggest that all melanins have a fundamental diffracting unit composed of planar graphitic assemblies that can differ in stacking distance. The stacking peak appears to be a distinguishing universal feature of melanins that may be of use in characterizing these enigmatic pigments.     

Effects of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum, on Melanized and Non-melanized Cryptococcus neoformans

In the present study, the in vitro susceptibility and capsular width from both melanized and non-melanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells in the presence of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus crude extract were determined. The results were compared with those obtained for voriconazole and amphotericin B. Melanization was obtained in minimal medium broth with the addition of L-dopa, and the antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using the broth microdilution method. Capsular width of 30 cells of each one of the isolates in medium with crude extracts of P. pseudocaryophyllus or voriconazole or amphotericin B at a concentration corresponding to 0.5?times the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured, and the mean was calculated. The MICs and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) for plant extract and voriconazole were identical for both melanized and non-melanized C. neoformans isolates, but for amphotericin, the MFCs for melanized cells were up to 8?times higher than for non-melanized cells. The capsular width of C. neoformans cells was smaller (p?<?0.001) in the presence crude extract of P. pseudocaryophyllus and of voriconazole regardless melanization. The findings of capsule alterations of C. neoformans verified in this study provide fertile ways for future research into the effects of antifungal agents on the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis.     

Effect of different K+ concentrations on Cryptococcus neoformans phenoloxidase activity

Melanin synthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans, catalyzed by phenoloxidase activity, is one of the oldest virulence factors known. However, until now, the relationship between melanin production in C. neoformans and its virulence has been poorly understood. Among different chemical compounds only Fe3+ and Cu2+ cations enhance the phenoloxidase activity in C. neoformans. A few reports in the literature describe the influence of different cations on C. neoformans phenoloxidase activity, excluding iron. In this study, 13 C. neoformans strains isolated from AIDS patients and 7 from bird droppings (B.D.), were examined in order to clarify the effect of different K+ concentrations on phenoloxidase activity. A new solid and liquid caffeic acid minimal synthetic medium (MSM-CAF) containing only caffeic acid and ferric citrate with different potassium concentrations was used to evaluate C. neoformans phenoloxidase activity. In the MSM-CAF solid medium the degree of brown pigmentation on the agar plates was read on days 1, 2 and 3 of incubation, and the pigmentation of the C. neoformans strains was classed into 5 categories. The brown pigment of the liquid MSM-CAF test tubes were checked after 24 hours of incubation by measuring the optical density (O.D.) at 480 nm. Three C. neoformans AIDS and B.D. strains, randomly chosen, were tested for phenoloxidase activity, according to the modified protocols of Polacheck et al., Torres-Guerrero et al. and Rhodes. According to the results obtained, it has been observed that K+ does not activate the phenoloxidase activity in the C. neoformans AIDS and B.D. strains. In particular, with an increase in potassium concentrations in the MSM-CAF solid and liquid medium, there was a corresponding inhibition of the phenoloxidase activity on both the C. neoformans AIDS and B.D. strains.     

Interference of melanin in the susceptibility profile of Sporothrix species to amphotericin B

BackgroundThe presence of melanin in the fungal cell is a major virulence factor of the genus Sporothrix since it protects the fungal cells against the defense systems.AimsThe present study aimed to investigate the interference of melanin in the susceptibility of Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto to amphotericin B and itraconazole, drugs recommended as therapy for disseminated and subcutaneous sporotrichosis, respectively.MethodsYeast cells were cultivated in minimal medium with or without l-DOPA in order to induce the production of melanin. Microdilution and killing assay methods were used to determine the antifungal activity against yeast cells with different amounts of melanin.ResultsThe killing assay showed that melanization protected isolates within the S. schenckii complex from amphotericin B, particularly in the lower concentrations tested.ConclusionsStudies combining amphotericin B and inhibitors of melanin are required in order to avoid this effect.     

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans and C. neoformans var. gattii

One of the differences observed between the two varieties of Cryptococcus neoformansis the greater difficulty to achieve an adequate therapeutical response in patients affected by C. neoformans var. gattii, an observation that has been validated in vitro only rarely. The aim of this work was to study the susceptibility patterns of 35 Colombian clinical isolates of C. neoformans, 20 of which belonged to the var. neoformans and 15 to the var. gattii. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by broth microdilution, according to a modification of the methodology proposed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), using the breakpoints recently suggested by Nguyen et al. (Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1998; 42: 471-472). The antifungals tested were amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the three antimycotics tested regardless of the variety. Resistance to amphotericin B (MIC=2 microg/ml) was documented in two (10%) C. neoformans var. neoformans isolates; additionally, five (33%) C. neoformans var. gattii isolates felt in the category of fluconazole susceptible but dose dependent (MIC 16 microg/ml). In general, all C. neoformans var. gattii isolates proved susceptible only to the higher concentrations of the antifungals tested. For amphotericin B, seven (47%) isolates of this variety had MICs of 1 microg/ml, for fluconazole there were seven (47%) with MICs of 8 microg/ml and in the case of itraconazole, 10 isolates (66%) had MICs > 0.03 microg/ml. The data showed that although these isolates would be classified as susceptible, they actually require greater concentrations of the antifungals to be inhibited. This finding may well correlate both with the difficulty to attain therapeutic success in patients affected with C. neoformans var. gattii and with the need for more prolonged treatment courses in such cases.     

In vitro susceptibility characteristics of Cryptococcus neoformans varieties from AIDS patients in Goiânia, Brazil

Sixty clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from AIDS from Goiania, state of Goiás, Brazil, were characterized according to varieties, serotypes and tested for antifungal susceptibility. To differentiate the two varieties was used L-canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium and to separate the serotypes was used slide agglutination test with Crypto Check Iatron. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of fluconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B were determined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards macrodilution method. Our results identified 56 isolates as C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A and 4 isolates as C. neoformans var. gattii serotype B. MIC values for C. neoformans var. gattii were higher than C. neoformans var. neoformans. We verified that none isolate was resistant to itraconazole and to amphotericin B, but one C. neoformans var. neoformans and three C. neoformans var. gattii isolates were resistant to fluconazole. The presence of C. neoformans var. gattii fluconazole resistant indicates the importance of determining not only the variety of C. neoformans infecting the patients but also measuring the MIC of the isolate in order to properly orient treatment.     

Cryptococcus neoformans can utilize the bacterial melanin precursor homogentisic acid for fungal melanogenesis

Cryptococcus neoformans melanizes in the environment and in mammalian tissues, but the process of melanization in either venue is mysterious given that this microbe produces melanin only from exogenous substrates. Understanding the process of melanization is important because melanization is believed to protect against various stresses in the environment, including UV radiation, and pigment production is associated with virulence. Melanization in C. neoformans requires the availability of diphenolic precursors. In contrast, many bacteria synthesize melanin from homogentisic acid (HGA). We report that C. neoformans strains representing all four serotypes can produce a brown pigment from HGA. The brown pigment was acid resistant and had the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of a stable free radical, qualities that identified it as a melanin. Melanin "ghost"-like particles obtained from pigmented C. neoformans cells were hydrophobic, fluorescent under a variety of irradiation wavelengths, negatively charged, insoluble in organic solvents and alcohols, resistant to degradation by strong acids, and vulnerable to bleaching. HGA melanization was laccase dependent and repressed by high concentrations of glucose. The ability of C. neoformans to utilize a bacterial melanin precursor compound suggests a new substrate source for melanization in the environment.     

Blastomyces dermatitidis produces melanin in vitro and during infection

Melanin is made by several important pathogenic fungi and is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of mycoses. This study investigates whether the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis produces melanin. Using techniques developed to study melanization in other fungi, we demonstrate that B. dermatitidis conidia and yeast produce melanin in vitro and that yeast cells synthesize melanin or melanin-like pigment in vivo. Melanization reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B, but not to itraconazole or voriconazole. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may affect the pathogenesis of blastomycosis.     

The sphingolipid pathway regulates Pkc1 through the formation of diacylglycerol in Cryptococcus neoformans

The sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway generates bioactive molecules crucial to the regulation of mammalian and fungal physiological and pathobiological processes. In previous studies (Luberto, C., Toffaletti, D. L., Wills, E. A., Tucker, S. C., Casadevall, A., Perfect, J. R., Hannun, Y. A., and Del Poeta, M. (2001) Genes Dev. 15, 201-212), we demonstrated that an enzyme of the fungal sphingolipid pathway, Ipc1 (inositol-phosphorylceramide synthase-1), regulates melanin, a pigment required for the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to cause disease. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which Ipc1 regulates melanin production. Because Ipc1 also catalyzes the production of diacylglycerol (DAG), a physiological activator of the classical and novel isoforms of mammalian protein kinase C (PKC), and because it has been suggested that PKC is required for melanogenesis in mammalian cells, we investigated whether Ipc1 regulates melanin in C. neoformans through the production of DAG and the subsequent activation of Pkc1, the fungal homolog of mammalian PKC. The results show that modulation of Ipc1 regulates the levels of DAG in C. neoformans cells. Next, we demonstrated that C. neoformans Pkc1 is a DAG-activated serine/threonine kinase and that the C1 domain of Pkc1 is necessary for this activation. Finally, through both pharmacological and genetic approaches, we found that inhibition of Pkc1 abolishes melanin formation in C. neoformans. This study identifies a novel signaling pathway in which C. neoformans Ipc1 plays a key role in the activation of Pkc1 through the formation of DAG. Importantly, this pathway is essential for melanin production with implications for the pathogenicity of C. neoformans.     

Melanin in the dimorphic fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: effects on phagocytosis, intracellular resistance and drug susceptibility

The fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis produces a melanin-like pigment in the presence of l-DOPA in vitro. We investigated whether melanization affected yeast uptake by alveolar and peritoneal macrophages, the intracellular resistance of fungal cells and their susceptibility to antifungal drugs. The interactions of melanized and nonmelanized P. brasiliensis with murine primary macrophages and J774.16 and MH-S macrophage-like cell lines were investigated. Melanized yeast cells were poorly phagocytosed by the cells even in the presence of complement. Melanization caused significant interference with the binding of cell wall components to lectin receptors on macrophages. Melanized cells were also more resistant than nonmelanized cells to the antifungal activity of murine macrophages. No difference in the susceptibilities of melanized and nonmelanized P. brasiliensis to antifungal drugs was observed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. However killing assays showed that melanization significantly reduced fungal susceptibility to amphotericin B and also protected against ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole and sulfamethoxazole. The present results indicate that fungal melanin protects P. brasiliensis from phagocytosis and increases its resistance to antifungal drugs.     

Transforming growth factor beta1 mediates hypopigmentation of B16 mouse melanoma cells by inhibition of melanin formation and melanosome maturation

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) downregulates tyrosinase in B16 melanoma cells by decreasing gene expression and the intracellular half-life of the enzyme, but does not block tyrosinase stimulation by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alphaMSH). In the presence of both agents, the enzymatic activity is intermediate between the one of cells treated with either agent alone. Here we show that TGFbeta1 equally inhibits the melanogenic activities of melan-a melanocytes and B16 melanoma cells, thus validating the B16 model. In both cell types, TGFbeta1 (10(-10) M, 48 h) inhibited to comparable levels tyrosine hydroxylation and melanin formation from L-tyrosine. Thus, the inhibitory effect is exerted mainly at the rate limiting step of the pathway. By means of quantitative image analysis techniques, we also studied the effects of TGFbeta1 and alphaMSH on melanosome number, volume density and maturation degree. alphaMSH (10(-7) M, 48 h) increased 7-fold melanosome volume density, whereas TGFbeta1 by itself had no significant effect. However, melanosomal volume density was intermediate in cells treated with both agents, as compared to control or alphaMSH-treated cells. Moreover, TGFbeta1 blocked the alphaMSH-elicited increase in the number of melanosomes. Control and alphaMSH-treated melanocytes contained more stage I+II premelanosomes and stage IV, fully melanized organelles than partially melanized stage III melanosomes. TGFbeta1 increased the percentage of stage III melanosomes. This trend was even more marked in cells treated with alphaMSH and TGFbeta1. The accumulation of incompletely melanized melanosomes is consistent with the inhibition of melanin formation activity by TGFbeta1 and with its hypopigmenting effect.