Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38622836›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of infectious diseases2024

Inhibition of RhoA Prevents Cryptococcus neoformans Capsule Glucuronoxylomannan-Stimulated Brain Endothelial Barrier Disruption.

Melissa E Munzen, Cristian Mathew, Vanessa Enriquez, Amanjeet Minhas, Claudia L Charles-Niño, Durvinand Saytoo, Marta Reguera-Gomez, Michael R Dores, Luis R Martinez

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. iScience · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Melissa E MunzenDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville.
Cristian MathewDepartment of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
Vanessa EnriquezDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville.
Amanjeet MinhasDepartment of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
Claudia L Charles-NiñoDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville.
Durvinand SaytooDepartment of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
Marta Reguera-GomezDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville.
Michael R DoresDepartment of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
Luis R MartinezDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville.ORCID 0000-0001-6372-6501
University of Florida · USHofstra University · US

Funding

Comprehensive Training Program in Oral BiologyT90DE021990 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI Jose A Lemos · 2011 to 2026
$8.2M
Unraveling Cryptococcus neoformans mechanisms of brain invasion and colonizationR01AI145559 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · PI MARTINEZ, LUIS R · 2019 to 2023
$2.6M
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral BiologyR90DE022530 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI LEMOS, JOSE A · 2011 to 2025
$995k
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R01AI145559NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI145559NIDCR NIH HHS R90 DE022530NIDCR NIH HHS T90 DE021990University of Florida College of Dentistry's Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology T90DE021990/R90DE022530US National Institutes of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is an opportunistic fungus that causes severe central nervous system (CNS) disease in immunocompromised individuals. Brain parenchyma invasion requires fungal traversal of the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we describe that Cn alters the brain endothelium by activating small GTPase RhoA, causing reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and tight junction modulation to regulate endothelial barrier permeability. We confirm that the main fungal capsule polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan is responsible for these alterations. We reveal a therapeutic benefit of RhoA inhibition by CCG-1423 in vivo. RhoA inhibition prolonged survival and reduced fungal burden in a murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis, supporting the therapeutic potential of targeting RhoA in the context of cryptococcal infection. We examine the complex virulence of Cn in establishing CNS disease, describing cellular components of the brain endothelium that may serve as molecular targets for future antifungal therapies to alleviate the burden of life-threatening cryptococcal CNS infection.

Indexed as

Blood-Brain BarrierCryptococcosisCryptococcus neoformansPolysaccharidesrhoA GTP-Binding ProteinAnimalsBrainDisease Models, AnimalEndothelial CellsFungal CapsulesHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLglucuronoxylomannanPolysaccharidesrhoA GTP-Binding Proteinblood-brain barrierCCG-1423C neoformansendothelial cellsRhoA

Identifiers

PMID38622836
PMCPMC11481333
OpenAlexW4394850424

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.