Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope01:18

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope

1.4K
The outermost layers of prokaryotic cells play a critical role in their survival, virulence, and interaction with the environment. These layers, often composed of polysaccharides, polypeptides, or proteins, form protective and adhesive structures that vary in organization and function.Capsules and Slime LayersCapsules are highly organized, tightly bound layers that firmly attach to the bacterial cell wall. Capsules are usually made of polysaccharides, though some are made of polypeptides. These...
1.4K
Archaeal Cell Wall01:29

Archaeal Cell Wall

1.5K
Archaeal cell walls are structurally and compositionally distinct from their bacterial counterparts, lacking the characteristic peptidoglycan layer found in most bacteria. Instead, archaeal cell walls exhibit remarkable diversity, utilizing materials such as pseudomurein, polysaccharides, and proteins to construct their protective outer layers. This structural flexibility is closely tied to archaea's ecological adaptability.S-Layers: The Common Archaeal Cell WallThe S-layer is the most...
1.5K
Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

4.6K
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
4.6K
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

1.7K
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
1.7K
Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes01:26

Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes

512
Planctomycetes are a group of morphologically distinct bacteria predominantly classified into two orders: Planctomycetales and Brocadiales. These gram-negative bacteria exhibit unique features, including division by budding and the presence of stalks or appendages. Their cells are often found in rosette arrangements, and they are notable for possessing an S-layer in their cell envelope, which is relatively uncommon among bacteria. Additionally, Planctomycetes frequently exhibit intracellular...
512
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

653
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
653

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Closing the diagnostic gap to control zoonotic sporotrichosis in the Americas.

Lancet regional health. Americas·2026
Same author

Fungal Extracellular Vesicles are Recoverable Across Variable Ultracentrifugation Speeds but Display Species-specific Profiles of Sedimentation.

The Journal of membrane biology·2026
Same author

Cellular and molecular responses of <i>Cryptococcus</i> to brilacidin.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

Erratum to "Simultaneous recording of the surface and internal structures of helminth parasites by fluorescence stereomicroscopy and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM)" [Micron 192-193C (2025) 103802].

Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)·2026
Same author

Erratum for Bedford et al., "Carbon starvation induces coincident capsule and cell wall remodeling in <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>".

mBio·2026
Same author

New morphological features and phylogenetic insights of <i>Dioctophyme renale</i> from wild carnivores and a domestic dog in South America.

International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

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

Automated Measurement of Cryptococcal Species Polysaccharide Capsule and Cell Body

Published on: January 11, 2018

7.9K

Phosphorus-rich structures and capsular architecture in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Caroline L Ramos1, Fabio M Gomes2, Wendell Girard-Dias2,3,4

  • 1Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Future Microbiology
|March 7, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Phosphorus-rich structures are crucial for Cryptococcus neoformans capsule assembly. This study reveals their role in fungal surface architecture and potential involvement in physiologic and pathogenic events.

Keywords:
Cryptococcuscapsulepolyphosphate

More Related Videos

Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans
08:24

Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans

Published on: February 27, 2018

14.5K
Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions
10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

6.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

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

Automated Measurement of Cryptococcal Species Polysaccharide Capsule and Cell Body

Published on: January 11, 2018

7.9K
Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans
08:24

Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans

Published on: February 27, 2018

14.5K
Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions
10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

6.8K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
  • Fungal cell wall and capsule are critical for virulence.
  • The role of phosphorus in fungal surface structures is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between phosphorus-rich structures and the surface architecture of Cryptococcus neoformans.
  • To elucidate the function of phosphorus-containing molecules in C. neoformans.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a combination of fluorescence microscopy, biochemical extraction, and scanning electron microscopy.
  • Employed electron probe X-ray microanalysis for elemental analysis.
  • Performed 3D reconstruction using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) on high-pressure frozen and freeze-substituted cells.

Main Results:

  • Identified both intracellular and surface phosphorus-enriched structures in C. neoformans.
  • Demonstrated that these phosphorus-rich molecules are essential for capsule assembly.
  • Showcased the requirement of these molecules using polysaccharide incorporation assays and mutants deficient in polyphosphate synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • Phosphorus-rich structures, including polyphosphates, are integral to C. neoformans cell wall and capsule.
  • These findings suggest a significant role for polyphosphates in fungal physiology and pathogenesis.
  • Opens avenues for future research into the functional implications of polyphosphates in C. neoformans.