Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/16821
Title
Accumulation of endogenous free radicals is required to induce titan-like cell formation in Cryptococcus neoformans
Author(s)
Garcia-Barbazan, Irene ISCIII | Torres-Cano, Alba ISCIII | Garcia-Rodas, Rocio ISCIII | Sachse, Martin ISCIII | Luque, Daniel ISCIII | Megías, Diego ISCIII | Zaragoza, Oscar ISCIII
Date issued
2024
Citation
mBio. 2024 Jan 16;15(1):e0254923.
Language
Inglés
Document type
research article
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an excellent model to investigate fungal pathogenesis. This yeast can produce "titan cells," which are cells of an abnormally larger size that contribute to the persistence of the yeast in the host. In this work, we have used a new approach to characterize them by identifying drugs that inhibit this process. We have used a repurposing off-patent drug library, combined with an automatic method to image and analyze fungal cell size. In this way, we have identified many compounds that inhibit this transition. Interestingly, several compounds were antioxidants, allowing us to confirm that endogenous ROS and mitochondrial changes are important for titan cell formation. This work provides new evidence of the mechanisms required for titanization. Furthermore, the future characterization of the inhibitory mechanisms of the identified compounds by the scientific community will contribute to better understand the role of titan cells in virulence.
Subject
Cryptococcus neoformans | Mitochondria | Off-patent drug repurposing | Reactive oxygen species | Titan-like cells
Online version
DOI
Collections