The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.

The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.

The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, representing one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. The main virulence factor of C. neoformans is the polysaccharide capsule; however, many fundamental asp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bruno ePontes, Susana eFrases
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Cryptococcus neoformans
Optical Tweezers
Viscosity
Light scattering
polysaccharide
Capsule
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00640/full
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spelling doaj-964ecaf44c144693aed53a3ec88862272020-11-24T22:55:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2015-06-01610.3389/fmicb.2015.00640151012The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.Bruno ePontes0Susana eFrases1University of Rio de JaneiroUniversity of Rio de JaneiroThe fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, representing one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. The main virulence factor of C. neoformans is the polysaccharide capsule; however, many fundamental aspects of capsule structure and function remain poorly understood. Recently, important capsule properties were uncovered using optical tweezers and other biophysical techniques, including dynamic and static light scattering, zeta potential and viscosity analyses. This review provides an overview of the latest findings in this emerging field, explaining the impact of these findings on our understanding of C. neoformans biology and resistance to host immune defenses.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00640/fullCryptococcus neoformansOptical TweezersViscosityLight scatteringpolysaccharideCapsule
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Bruno ePontes
Susana eFrases
spellingShingle Bruno ePontes
Susana eFrases
The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
Frontiers in Microbiology
Cryptococcus neoformans
Optical Tweezers
Viscosity
Light scattering
polysaccharide
Capsule
author_facet Bruno ePontes
Susana eFrases
author_sort Bruno ePontes
title The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
title_short The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
title_full The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
title_fullStr The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
title_full_unstemmed The Cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
title_sort cryptococcus neoformans capsule: lessons from the use of optical tweezers and other biophysical tools.
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Microbiology
issn 1664-302X
publishDate 2015-06-01
description The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, representing one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. The main virulence factor of C. neoformans is the polysaccharide capsule; however, many fundamental aspects of capsule structure and function remain poorly understood. Recently, important capsule properties were uncovered using optical tweezers and other biophysical techniques, including dynamic and static light scattering, zeta potential and viscosity analyses. This review provides an overview of the latest findings in this emerging field, explaining the impact of these findings on our understanding of C. neoformans biology and resistance to host immune defenses.
topic Cryptococcus neoformans
Optical Tweezers
Viscosity
Light scattering
polysaccharide
Capsule
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00640/full
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