Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

We previously observed a substantial burden of cryptococcal meningitis in Vietnam atypically arising in individuals who are uninfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This disease was associated with a single genotype of Cryptococcus neoformans (sequence type [ST]5), which was significantly less common in HIV-infected individuals. Aiming to compare the phenotypic characteristics of ST5 and non-ST5 C. neoformans, we selected 30 representative Vietnamese isolates and compared their in vitro pathogenic potential and in vivo virulence. ST5 and non-ST5 organisms exhibited comparable characteristics with respect to in vitro virulence markers including melanin production, replication at 37°C, and growth in cerebrospinal fluid. However, the ST5 isolates had significantly increased variability in cellular and capsular sizing compared with non-ST5 organisms (P 

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/mmy/myaa013

Type

Journal

Medical mycology

Publication Date

11/2020

Volume

58

Pages

1149 - 1161

Addresses

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Asia Africa Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Keywords

Lung, Animals, Humans, Mice, Cryptococcus neoformans, AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections, Meningitis, Cryptococcal, Cytokines, Colony Count, Microbial, Virulence, Immunocompetence, Genotype, Phenotype, Vietnam, Female, Male, Fungal Capsules