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Infectious Disease Reports
Volume 17
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10.3390/idr17040101
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Article

The Role of Nutritional Environment in Cryptococcus gattii Titan Cells’ Ultrastructure, Biophysical Properties, Molecular Features, and Virulence in Cryptococcosis

by
Igor Avellar-Moura
1,
Glauber R. de S. Araujo
1,*,
Juliana Godoy
1,
Vinicius Alves
1,
Iara Bastos de Andrade
1,
Juliana Soares
2,
Bruno Pontes
2,3,4 and
Susana Frases
1,4,*
1
Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
2
Laboratório de Pinças Ópticas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
3
Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
4
Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17(4), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17040101 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 1 June 2025 / Revised: 28 July 2025 / Accepted: 13 August 2025 / Published: 16 August 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cryptococcus gattii presents a significant threat to healthy individuals. Titan cell formation, a key virulence factor, is influenced by the nutritional environment and plays a critical role in immune evasion and stress resistance. This study investigates the molecular and biophysical changes in titanized C. gattii cells grown in nutrient-rich Neurobasal™ medium, a potent inducer of titan cells. Methods: An integrative approach was used, combining scanning electron microscopy, optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy, and physicochemical methods to analyze C. gattii cells grown in Neurobasal™ medium and minimal media. Results: Cells grown in Neurobasal™ medium exhibited significant differences compared to those grown in minimal media. These included a thicker and more defined polysaccharide capsule, enhanced capsule elasticity, and the secretion of more elastic polysaccharides. Furthermore, cells grown in the enriched medium showed reduced susceptibility to antifungals and delayed mortality in infection models. Conclusions: C. gattii adapts to nutritional cues by forming titan cells, thereby enhancing its pathogenicity. Targeting nutritional sensing pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies against cryptococcal infections.
Keywords: C. gattii; titan cells; Neurobasal™ medium; virulence C. gattii; titan cells; Neurobasal™ medium; virulence

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MDPI and ACS Style

Avellar-Moura, I.; Araujo, G.R.d.S.; Godoy, J.; Alves, V.; Andrade, I.B.d.; Soares, J.; Pontes, B.; Frases, S. The Role of Nutritional Environment in Cryptococcus gattii Titan Cells’ Ultrastructure, Biophysical Properties, Molecular Features, and Virulence in Cryptococcosis. Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17, 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17040101

AMA Style

Avellar-Moura I, Araujo GRdS, Godoy J, Alves V, Andrade IBd, Soares J, Pontes B, Frases S. The Role of Nutritional Environment in Cryptococcus gattii Titan Cells’ Ultrastructure, Biophysical Properties, Molecular Features, and Virulence in Cryptococcosis. Infectious Disease Reports. 2025; 17(4):101. https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17040101

Chicago/Turabian Style

Avellar-Moura, Igor, Glauber R. de S. Araujo, Juliana Godoy, Vinicius Alves, Iara Bastos de Andrade, Juliana Soares, Bruno Pontes, and Susana Frases. 2025. "The Role of Nutritional Environment in Cryptococcus gattii Titan Cells’ Ultrastructure, Biophysical Properties, Molecular Features, and Virulence in Cryptococcosis" Infectious Disease Reports 17, no. 4: 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17040101

APA Style

Avellar-Moura, I., Araujo, G. R. d. S., Godoy, J., Alves, V., Andrade, I. B. d., Soares, J., Pontes, B., & Frases, S. (2025). The Role of Nutritional Environment in Cryptococcus gattii Titan Cells’ Ultrastructure, Biophysical Properties, Molecular Features, and Virulence in Cryptococcosis. Infectious Disease Reports, 17(4), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17040101

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