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Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Desnos-Ollivier, M; Patel, S; Spaulding, AR; Charlier, C; Garcia-Hermoso, D; Nielsen, K; Dromer, F
Published in: mBio
May 18, 2010

Koch's postulates are criteria establishing a causal relationship between a microbe and a disease that lead to the assumption that diseases are caused by a single strain or its evolved forms. Cryptococcus neoformans is a life-threatening human fungal pathogen responsible for an estimated 1 million cases of cryptococcosis/year, predominantly meningoencephalitis. To assess the molecular diversity of clinical isolates and gain knowledge of C. neoformans biology in the host, we analyzed clinical cultures collected during the prospective CryptoA/D study. Using molecular analysis of unpurified isolates, we demonstrated that mixed infections in humans are more common than previously thought, occurring in almost 20% of patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis. These mixed infections are composed of different mating types, serotypes, and/or genotypes. We also identified genetically related haploid and diploid strains in the same patients. Experimental infections and quantitative PCR show that these ploidy changes can result from endoreplication (duplication of DNA content) and that shuttling between haploid and diploid states can occur, suggesting in vivo evolution. Thus, the concept of one strain/one infection does not hold true for C. neoformans and may apply to other environmentally acquired fungal pathogens. Furthermore, the possibility of mixed and/or evolving infections should be taken into account when developing therapeutic strategies against these pathogens.

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Published In

mBio

DOI

EISSN

2150-7511

Publication Date

May 18, 2010

Volume

1

Issue

1

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • 3207 Medical microbiology
  • 3107 Microbiology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 0605 Microbiology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Desnos-Ollivier, M., Patel, S., Spaulding, A. R., Charlier, C., Garcia-Hermoso, D., Nielsen, K., & Dromer, F. (2010). Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. MBio, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00091-10
Desnos-Ollivier, Marie, Sweta Patel, Adam R. Spaulding, Caroline Charlier, Dea Garcia-Hermoso, Kirsten Nielsen, and Françoise Dromer. “Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.MBio 1, no. 1 (May 18, 2010). https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00091-10.
Desnos-Ollivier M, Patel S, Spaulding AR, Charlier C, Garcia-Hermoso D, Nielsen K, et al. Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio. 2010 May 18;1(1).
Desnos-Ollivier, Marie, et al. “Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.MBio, vol. 1, no. 1, May 2010. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/mBio.00091-10.
Desnos-Ollivier M, Patel S, Spaulding AR, Charlier C, Garcia-Hermoso D, Nielsen K, Dromer F. Mixed infections and In Vivo evolution in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio. 2010 May 18;1(1).

Published In

mBio

DOI

EISSN

2150-7511

Publication Date

May 18, 2010

Volume

1

Issue

1

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • 3207 Medical microbiology
  • 3107 Microbiology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 0605 Microbiology