Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance
08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

14.3K

Impact of Resistance to Fluconazole on Virulence and Morphological Aspects of Cryptococcus neoformans and

Suélen A Rossi1, Nuria Trevijano-Contador2, Liliana Scorzoni1

  • 1Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|February 25, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Antifungal resistance in Cryptococcus species can reduce their virulence, particularly in Cryptococcus neoformans. Fluconazole resistance may impact fungal growth and morphology, leading to decreased pathogenicity.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Cryptococcus species cause approximately 1 million meningitis cases annually.
  • Fluconazole (FLU) is a primary treatment for cryptococcosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Antifungal resistance often emerges after prolonged treatment periods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the morphological characteristics and virulence of fluconazole-susceptible and fluconazole-resistant Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii isolates.
  • To compare virulence profiles in vitro and in vivo using the Galleria mellonella model.
  • To assess the impact of fluconazole resistance on fungal morphology, capsule size, and growth at 37°C.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological characterization of clinical and environmental isolates.
  • Virulence profiling using the Galleria mellonella infection model.
  • In vitro analysis of cell morphology, capsule size, and growth at 37°C.

Main Results:

  • Fluconazole-susceptible Cryptococcus neoformans isolates exhibited significantly higher virulence than resistant isolates.
  • Fluconazole-susceptible Cryptococcus gattii isolates displayed varied virulence; only one environmental isolate was more virulent than resistant ones.
  • Fluconazole-resistant isolates showed reduced growth at 37°C compared to susceptible isolates.
  • No significant changes in cell morphology or capsule size were observed between susceptible and resistant isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Fluconazole resistance can influence fungal morphology and alter virulence profiles.
  • Adaptation to antifungal selective pressure, particularly in Cryptococcus neoformans, can lead to a loss of virulence.
  • Fluconazole resistance may compromise the growth of Cryptococcus species at host physiological temperatures.
Keywords:
Cryptococcus sp.Galleria mellonellafluconazoleresistancevirulence

More Related Videos

Automated Measurement of Cryptococcal Species Polysaccharide Capsule and Cell Body08:08

Automated Measurement of Cryptococcal Species Polysaccharide Capsule and Cell Body

Published on: January 11, 2018

7.9K
Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

21.5K

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to...
29
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and...
60
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
25