Morphological Transition of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Conidia to Yeast Cells: In Vivo Inhibition in Females

AUTOR(ES)

Aristizabal, Beatriz H.

FONTE

American Society for Microbiology

RESUMO

Clinical paracoccidioidomycosis is 13 times more common in men than in women. Estrogen inhibits the transition of mycelia or conidia (the saprophytic form of Paracoccidoides brasiliensis) to yeasts (the parasitic form) in vitro. Here, we show that, in male mice that were infected intranasally (mimicking natural infection) the transition of conidia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids to intermediate forms and yeasts occurred over 24 to 96 h; CFU and yeasts (shown by histopathology) increased subsequently. In females, transition did not occur and infection cleared. These events in vivo are consistent with epidemiological and in vitro observations, suggesting that female hormones block transition and are responsible for resistance.

Documentos Relacionados

• Phospholipase gene expression during Paracoccidioides brasiliensis morphological transition and infection
• Inhibition by estrogens of conidium-to-yeast conversion in the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
• Estrogens inhibit mycelium-to-yeast transformation in the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: implications for resistance of females to paracoccidioidomycosis.
• Resistance of melanized yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to antimicrobial oxidants and inhibition of phagocytosis using carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18
• In vitro effects of natural killer cells against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast phase.