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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
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Use of Image Cytometry for Quantification of Pathogenic Fungi in Association with Host Cells
Published on: June 19, 2013
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Detection and Quantification of Cryptococcus Uptake by Phagocytic Cells Using Imaging Flow Cytometry.
Althea Campuzano1,2, Chiung-Yu Hung1,2, Floyd L Wormley3,4
1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 17, 2024
Summary
A new imaging flow cytometry method quantifies how phagocytic cells engulf Cryptococcus neoformans. This tool helps identify receptors crucial for clearing fungal infections and understanding immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening pneumonia and central nervous system infections.
- Pulmonary phagocytic cells use pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to identify and eliminate inhaled fungi.
- Key receptor-ligand interactions for Cryptococcus recognition and clearance remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel imaging flow cytometry (IFC) method for quantifying fungal phagocytosis.
- To provide a high-throughput, quantitative tool for analyzing phagocytosis steps: association and internalization.
- To enable the identification of PRRs involved in fungal recognition and immune cell activation.
Main Methods:
- Development of an imaging flow cytometry (IFC) assay.
- Quantitative measurement of fungal cell association with and internalization by phagocytic cells.
- High-throughput analysis of phagocytosis dynamics.
Main Results:
- The IFC method accurately quantifies fungal cell phagocytosis in a high-throughput manner.
- The assay distinguishes between fungal cell association and internalization.
- This approach facilitates the identification of critical PRR-ligand interactions.
Conclusions:
- IFC is a powerful tool for studying fungal phagocytosis and host-pathogen interactions.
- This method can identify PRRs essential for recognizing Cryptococcus neoformans.
- Understanding these interactions may lead to improved strategies for managing cryptococcosis.
