Abstract

Topics of current studies include 1) cloning of mitochondrial DNA sequences of Crytococcus neoformans; 2) isolation of antigenic variants of Candida albicans; 3) determination of ploidy and karyotype of Candida stellatoidea; 4) comparison of Cladosporium trichoides, an etiologic agent of mycotic brain abscess, with Xylohypha nigrescens. In current studies, we have determined that the mitochondrial genome size of the two varieties of Crytococcus neoformans range between 40-45 kilobases. Some cloned mt DNA fragments ranging between 1 to 1.8 kb showed variety specific patterns of homology when they were hybridized with total DNA digests of numerous isolates obtained from various parts of the world. These findings support the previous results that the phenotypic differences between the two varieties are based on their genetic differences. A method, without mutagenesis, was developed to isolate antigenic variants from serotype A as well as B isolates of Candida albicans.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01AI000057-16
Application #
3818096
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Niaid Extramural Activities
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code

  Publications

Jong, Ambrose; Wu, Chun-Hua; Prasadarao, Nemani V et al. (2008) Invasion of Cryptococcus neoformans into human brain microvascular endothelial cells requires protein kinase C-alpha activation. Cell Microbiol 10:1854-65
Lupo, P; Chang, Y C; Kelsall, B L et al. (2008) The presence of capsule in Cryptococcus neoformans influences the gene expression profile in dendritic cells during interaction with the fungus. Infect Immun 76:1581-9
Jong, Ambrose; Wu, Chun-Hua; Shackleford, Gregory M et al. (2008) Involvement of human CD44 during Cryptococcus neoformans infection of brain microvascular endothelial cells. Cell Microbiol 10:1313-26
Okoli, Ikechukwu; Oyeka, Christie A; Kwon-Chung, Kyung J et al. (2007) Cryptotrichosporon anacardii gen. nov., sp. nov., a new trichosporonoid capsulate basidiomycetous yeast from Nigeria that is able to form melanin on niger seed agar. FEMS Yeast Res 7:339-50
Jong, Ambrose; Wu, Chun-Hua; Chen, Han-Min et al. (2007) Identification and characterization of CPS1 as a hyaluronic acid synthase contributing to the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Eukaryot Cell 6:1486-96
Chang, Yun C; Bien, Clara M; Lee, Hyeseung et al. (2007) Sre1p, a regulator of oxygen sensing and sterol homeostasis, is required for virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol 64:614-29
Lee, Hyeseung; Bien, Clara M; Hughes, Adam L et al. (2007) Cobalt chloride, a hypoxia-mimicking agent, targets sterol synthesis in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol 65:1018-33
Kwon-Chung, Kyung J; Varma, Ashok (2006) Do major species concepts support one, two or more species within Cryptococcus neoformans? FEMS Yeast Res 6:574-87
Chang, Y C; Jong, A; Huang, S et al. (2006) CPS1, a homolog of the Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 polysaccharide synthase gene, is important for the pathobiology of Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Immun 74:3930-8
Varma, Ashok; Wu, Shaoxi; Guo, Ningru et al. (2006) Identification of a novel gene, URE2, that functionally complements a urease-negative clinical strain of Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiology 152:3723-31

Showing the most recent 10 out of 38 publications