Innate immune evasion strategies against Cryptococcal meningitis caused by Cryptococcus?neoformans (Review)

Abstract

As an infectious fungus that affects the respiratory tract, Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) commonly causes asymptomatic pulmonary infection. C. neoformans may target the brain instead of the lungs and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the early phase of infection; however, this is dependent on successful evasion of the host innate immune system. During the initial stage of fungal infection, a complex network of innate immune factors are activated. C. neoformans utilizes a number of strategies to overcome the anti-fungal mechanisms of the host innate immune system and cross the BBB. In the present review, the defensive mechanisms of C. neoformans against the innate immune system and its ability to cross the BBB were discussed, with an emphasis on recent insights into the activities of anti-phagocytotic and anti-oxidative factors in C. neoformans.

The impact of episporic modification of Lichtheimia corymbifera on virulence and interaction with phagocytes

“…Both, spores with and without sustained protein corona inhibit the apoptosis suggesting a major role of the spore and its cell wall matrix as a whole particle in the prevention of apoptosis of the host cell. This sheds light into the nature of Lichtheimia spores using macrophages as vehicle for dissemination as discussed before [16] and already described for immune evasion in Cryptococcus neoformans [47] . The current study reports the inhibition of apoptosis of macrophages by L. corymbifera which is mandatory for protection and survival of Lichtheimia spores inside the macrophages over longer time periods.…”

<p>Functional aspects, phenotypic heterogeneity, and tissue immune response of macrophages in infectious diseases</p>

“…Regardless of whether a cell is infected by viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or fungi, the pathogen in each case uses the immune system to modulate the response and, thereby, survive inside the cell. [163][164][165] Bacteria and protozoa One of the key issues arising from the discussion of this subject is understanding the response that PRRs can induce through the recognition of PAMPs of certain microorganisms. Classically, receptors such as those in the Toll family agglutinate a variable range from TLR1 to TLR13.…”

Liposomal Ellagic Acid Alleviates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Toxicity and Eliminates the Systemic Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in Leukopenic Mice

“…A majority of fungal infections occur in immunosuppressed persons, but C. neoformans can cause infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals as well [2]. C. neoformans adopts the unique virulence factors and strategies to evade the host's immune mechanisms [3]. The lungs are common sites of C. neoformans infection, but C. neoformans infection of the brain causes more than 60% mortality rate in the infected persons [4].…”