Characterizing Virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans Hypothetical Protein CNAG_04922
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcal meningitis (CM), primarily in immunocompromised individuals. A number of C. neoformans genes are associated with changes in virulence and immune response in human CM. One particular uncharacterized gene is CNAG_04922. A mutant loss of function form, CNAG_04922Δ, was previously shown to have delayed virulence in infected mice. In phenotypic studies of the CNAG_04922Δ it was found that the cell wall stressors 30℃, 37℃, NaCl, Congo Red, Caffeine, Calcofluor White, 8.15 pH and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate did not have any effect on the mutant strain compared to WT. In microscopic analysis of the cells from CNAG_04922Δ and WT overnight cultures, there was also no significant difference. This study explored potential roles for CNAG_04922 in the fungal cell wall, and subsequently during infection. Some future endeavors include a capsule induction assay and a macrophage uptake assay.