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Published on: November 5, 2019
A murine model of Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis
George R Thompson1, Nathan P Wiederhold, Laura K Najvar
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine the Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA. grthompson@ucdavis.edu
The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|March 2, 2012
Summary
Cryptococcus gattii causes severe meningoencephalitis in mice, proving more virulent than Cryptococcus neoformans. Antifungal treatments improved survival but did not prevent mortality in this new model.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cryptococcus gattii causes severe meningoencephalitis requiring aggressive treatment.
- A murine model for Cryptococcus neoformans meningoencephalitis was adapted for C. gattii.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt a murine model for C. gattii meningoencephalitis.
- To compare the virulence of C. gattii and C. neoformans in mice.
- To evaluate antifungal treatment efficacy in this model.
Main Methods:
- Mice were intracranially inoculated with C. gattii (VGIIa) or C. neoformans.
- Virulence was assessed by survival, fungal burden, antigen titers, and histopathology.
- Fluconazole and posaconazole were administered 24 hours post-inoculation.
Main Results:
- C. gattii demonstrated higher virulence than C. neoformans, indicated by shorter survival and increased histopathological changes.
- No significant differences in fungal burden or dissemination were observed.
- Antifungal treatment improved median survival but not overall survival rates.
Conclusions:
- The adapted model effectively demonstrates the virulence of C. gattii meningoencephalitis.
- This model holds potential for evaluating novel therapeutic strategies against C. gattii infections.
