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Curvularia lunata in experimental phaeohyphomycosis
Abstract:
Curvularia lunata strain SP, isolated from a disseminated human infection, infected normal mice, but three other strains of C. lunata and one each of C. pallescens and C. spicifera did not. The SP strain was recovered in cultures from, and hyphal filaments were observed in, abscesses in the liver and spleen of experimentally infected mice. All strains of Curvularia infected mice treated with 400 rads X-irradiation and 10.0 mg cortisone, but at 400 rads and 5.0 mg only two strains of C. lunata (SP and Ghosh) and C. pallescens and C. spicifera infected mice. At 200 rads and 10.0 mg, C. lunata Sp, C. pallescens and C. spicifera; and at 200 rads and 5.0 mg, only C. lunata SP and C. pallescens caused infection. After X-irradiation (200 or 400 rads) or cortisone (5.0 or 10.0 mg) alone only C. lunata SP caused infections in mice.
Insights
Curvularia lunata strain SP can infect healthy mice, unlike other strains. Immunosuppression via X-irradiation or cortisone treatment increased susceptibility to Curvularia fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Curvularia species are increasingly recognized as opportunistic fungal pathogens.
- Understanding the virulence factors and host-pathogen interactions of Curvularia is crucial for managing infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pathogenicity of different Curvularia lunata strains and related species in a murine model.
- To determine the impact of varying levels of immunosuppression on susceptibility to Curvularia infection.
Main Methods:
- Infection experiments were conducted using Curvularia lunata strain SP and other Curvularia species in normal and immunosuppressed mice.
- Mice were immunosuppressed using different doses of X-irradiation and cortisone acetate.
- Fungal recovery and histopathological examination of infected tissues were performed.
Main Results:
- Curvularia lunata strain SP demonstrated pathogenicity in immunocompetent mice, causing disseminated infection.
- All tested Curvularia strains infected mice treated with high doses of X-irradiation and cortisone.
- Lower doses of immunosuppression revealed differential susceptibility, with C. lunata SP and C. pallescens showing greater virulence.
Conclusions:
- Curvularia lunata strain SP possesses intrinsic virulence factors enabling infection of immunocompetent hosts.
- Immunosuppression significantly enhances susceptibility to Curvularia infections, with varying degrees of virulence observed among strains and species.
- These findings highlight the importance of host immune status in the pathogenesis of Curvularia infections.