부산대학교 도서관

Background:Cryptococcus neoformansis an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes infections mainly in immunosuppressed individuals, such as transplant recipients. Aims:This study investigated the effects of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, on the cellular organization, biophysical characteristics, and main virulence factors of C. neoformans. Methods:Morphological, structural, physicochemical and biophysical analyses of cells and secreted polysaccharides of the reference H99 C. neoformansstrain were investigated under the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of rapamycin. Results:Rapamycin at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.5 μM reduced C. neoformanscell viability by 53%, decreased capsule, increased cell size, chitin and lipid body formation, and changed peptidase and urease activity. Conclusion:Further studies are needed to assess how rapamycin affects the virulence factors and pathogenicity of C. neoformans.