De novo GTP Biosynthesis Is Critical for Virulence of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Figure 4
IMPDH is essential for pathogenicity in murine and nematode hosts.
(A) Fungal burden of imd1Δ cells recovered from the lungs and brain of BALB/c mice infected with 5×105 cells via nasal inhalation. Bars represent mean colony-forming units (CFU)/g ± standard error. (B) N2 Bristol young adult nematodes were co-cultured with C. neoformans wild-type strain H99 on minimal medium supplemented with 5, 10 or 20 µg/mL MPA or 5 µg/mL fluconazole. MPA significantly enhanced nematode survival over eight days, as did fluconazole treatment; p<0.05 *; p<0.01 **.