Ex Vivo Host Transcriptomics During Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, and Candida albicans Infection of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From South African Volunteers
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, and Candida albicans are opportunistic fungal pathogens associated with infections in immunocompromised hosts. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the leading fungal cause of human immunodeficiency virus-related deaths globally, with the majority occurring in Africa. The human immune response to C albicans infection has been studied extensively in large genomics studies whereas cryptococcal infections, despite their severity, are comparatively understudied. Here we investigated the transcriptional response of immune cells after in vitro stimulation with in vitro C neoformans, C gattii, and C albicans infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from healthy South African volunteers. We found a lower transcriptional response to cryptococcal stimuli compared to C albicans and unique expression signatures from all 3 fungal stimuli. This work provides a starting point for further studies comparing the transcriptional signature of CM in immunocompromised patients, with the goal of identifying biomarkers of disease severity and possible novel treatment targets.
Institutions: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Institute of Cancer Research, St George's, University of London, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Institute of Cancer Research, University of Cape Town, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen, Radboud University Medical Center, University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,001
OpenAlex ID: W4401700747