Cellular charge of Cryptococcus neoformans: Contributions from the capsular polysaccharide, melanin, and monoclonal antibody binding
Open accessAbstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a human pathogenic fungus which is unusual in two respects: it has a polysaccharide capsule similar to that found in encapsulated bacteria and it can produce melanin. Capsular and melanization phenotypes are associated with virulence. In this study we analyzed the contributions of the capsular polysaccharide, melanization, and antibody binding to the capsule to the cellular charge of C. neoformans. Cell charge was inferred from measurements of zeta potential. The results indicate that (i) C. neoformans cells are significantly more negatively charged than Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, (ii) the polysaccharide capsule of C. neoformans is responsible for the high negative charge of the cells, (iii) C. neoformans melanin is negatively charged, (iv) melanization in C. neoformans is associated with an increased negative charge per cell, and (v) antibody binding to the capsule of C. neoformans significantly alters the cell charge. These results suggest that alterations in cell charge attributable to polysaccharide capsule formation, melanization, and antibody binding may affect C. neoformans virulence given that macrophage phagocytosis is effected by the zeta potential of microorganisms.
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C. neoformans melanin evades host phagocytosis by modifying cell surface charge.
“For example, extracellular melanin secreted by Fonsecaea pedrosoi triggers phagocyte activation and enhances their phagocytic efficiency [38], whereas C. neoformans melanin evades host phagocytosis by modifying cell surface charge [39].”
From Fungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions (2025) · cites this paper as [39]
The paper reports that melanization increases negative cell charge and has been associated with reduced macrophage phagocytosis (Discussion). But its opening background says the mechanism of resistance to phagocytosis is unknown and that mediation by altered cell charge was only speculated. The claim presents that proposed mechanism as established. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Patel, D., Desai, G. M., Frases, S., Cordero, R. J. B., DeLeon-Rodriguez, C. M., Eugenin, E. A., Nosanchuk, J. D., & Martinez, L. R. (2013) · mBio · doi:10.1128/mbio.00400-13 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Self-citationFungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions
Jia, H., Liu, N., Zhang, L., Li, P., Meng, Y., Yuan, W., Li, H., Tantai, D., Qu, Q., Cao, Z., et al. (2025) · Plants · doi:10.3390/plants14142121 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
- Authors
- Nosanchuk, J. D., & Casadevall, A.
- Affiliations
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
- Venue
- Infection and Immunity
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Published
- 1997-05
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1836-1841
- ISSN
- 0019-9567 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-5522
- PMC
- PMC175227
- OpenAlex
- W1928235202
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 11 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Infection and Immunity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1r43ai022774-01)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI13342, AI-22774)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Keywords
- Cryptococcus neoformans, cell surface charge, zeta potential, capsular polysaccharide, melanin, melanization, monoclonal antibody binding, virulence, macrophage phagocytosis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae comparison
- MeSH terms
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibody Affinity, Complement System Proteins, Cryptococcus neoformans, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Indoles, Levodopa, Melanins, Membrane Glycoproteins, Membrane Potentials, Polysaccharides, Polysaccharides, Bacterial, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Virulence, Reproducibility of Results
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