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Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Assessing Anti-fungal Activity of Isolated Alveolar Macrophages by Confocal Microscopy

Assessing Anti-fungal Activity of Isolated Alveolar Macrophages by Confocal Microscopy

Published on: July 9, 2014

Cryptococcus displays spore-specific uptake by alveolar epithelial cells.

Sébastien C Ortiz¹, Rachael Fortune-Grant¹, Andrew J Thom¹

¹Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom.

|October 22, 2025

Summary

Cryptococcus neoformans spores, unlike yeast, are readily internalized by airway epithelial cells (AECs). This uptake by AECs may explain spore dissemination and cryptococcal disease latency.

Keywords:

C. deneoformans Cryptococcus neoformans airway epithelial cells dissemination fungal pathogenesis latency phagocytosis spores

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Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans

Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans

Published on: December 19, 2014

Area of Science:

* Mycology and Infectious Diseases
* Cell Biology and Host-Pathogen Interactions
* Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

* Human fungal pathogens like Cryptococcus neoformans cause significant mortality, with dissemination to the brain being a key factor in disease progression.
* The mechanisms underlying Cryptococcus dissemination and latency remain largely unknown.
* Fungal spores, a stress-resistant morphotype, exhibit distinct pathogenic properties compared to yeast but are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

* To investigate the interaction between Cryptococcus spores and airway epithelial cells (AECs).
* To determine if AECs serve as an intracellular niche for Cryptococcus spores.
* To explore the role of AECs in Cryptococcus dissemination and latency.

Main Methods:

* In vitro and in vivo studies examining the internalization of Cryptococcus spores by AECs.
* Analysis of spore germination, replication, persistence, and escape within AECs.
* Correlation of AEC internalization with spore dissemination capabilities.

Main Results:

* Cryptococcus spores are preferentially internalized by AECs, a non-professional phagocytic cell type.
* Internalized spores can germinate, replicate, persist, and/or escape from AECs.
* The ability of spores to enter AECs correlates with their enhanced ability to cross epithelial barriers.

Conclusions:

* AECs act as an intracellular host niche for Cryptococcus spores.
* AEC internalization of spores provides a novel mechanism for Cryptococcus dissemination from the lung.
* This interaction offers new hypotheses for understanding cryptococcal latency and extrapulmonary spread.