Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40038673›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroinflammation2025

Active Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan production prevents elimination of cryptococcal CNS infection in vivo.

Vanessa Enriquez, Melissa E Munzen, Luz M Porras, Claudia L Charles-Niño, Fahong Yu, Karina Alviña, Raddy L Ramos, Michael R Dores, Paola Giusti-Rodriguez, Luis R Martinez

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroinflammation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. iScience · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Frontiers in immunology · 2025
    Article
  7. Host-membrane lipid composition controlsFrontiers in immunology · 2025
    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

10 authors.

Vanessa EnriquezDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, 1395 Center Drive, DG-48, P.O. Box 100424, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
Melissa E MunzenDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, 1395 Center Drive, DG-48, P.O. Box 100424, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
Luz M PorrasDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Claudia L Charles-NiñoDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, 1395 Center Drive, DG-48, P.O. Box 100424, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
Fahong YuInterdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Karina AlviñaDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Raddy L RamosDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA.
Michael R DoresDepartment of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA.
Paola Giusti-RodriguezDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Luis R MartinezDepartment of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, 1395 Center Drive, DG-48, P.O. Box 100424, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. LMartinez@dental.ufl.edu.

Funding

Comprehensive Training Program in Oral BiologyT90DE021990 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI Jose A Lemos · 2011 to 2026
$8.2M
Beyond GWAS: High Throughput Functional Genomics & Epigenome Editing to Elucidate the Effects of Genetic Associations for SchizophreniaR01MH125236 · NIMH · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI CRAWFORD, GREGORY E, GERSBACH, CHARLES A. · 2021 to 2025
$8.1M
Unraveling Cryptococcus neoformans mechanisms of brain invasion and colonizationR01AI145559 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · PI MARTINEZ, LUIS R · 2019 to 2023
$2.6M
Administrative Supplement: 1/2 Trans-ancestry genomic analysis of obsessive-compulsive disorderU01MH125050 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI CROWLEY, JAMES JOSEPH, PATO, MICHELE T · 2021 to 2025
$1.8M
Centrifugal regulation of olfactory function by melanin-concentrating hormoneR01DC019379 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI ALVINA, KARINA · 2021 to 2025
$1.7M
Mechanisms underlying Cryptococcus neoformans-induced meningoencephalitis and neurotoxicity in a CD4 T cell-deficient mouseR01AI187391 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI Luis R Martinez · 2025 to 2026
$1.0M
Comprehensive Training Program in Oral BiologyR90DE022530 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI LEMOS, JOSE A · 2011 to 2025
$995k
Defining a Good Death for High-Risk Neonates in the NICUF31NR009460 · NINR · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI FORTNEY, CHRISTINE A · 2005 to 2009
$125k
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases AI145559, AI187391NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI145559NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI187391NIDCD NIH HHS DC019379NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC019379NIDCR NIH HHS R90 DE022530NIDCR NIH HHS T90 DE021990NIDCR NIH HHS T90DE021990/R90DE022530NIMH NIH HHS MH125236, MH125050NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH125236NIMH NIH HHS U01 MH125050NINR NIH HHS F31 NR009460
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCryptococcus neoformans (Cn) causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in individuals with AIDS. Cn's polysaccharide capsule is mainly composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and plays a key role in the dysregulation of immunity, resistance to antifungal drugs, and systemic dissemination, including CNS invasion. Although recent studies have begun to elucidate the involvement of microglia in cryptococcosis, our knowledge of these CNS resident phagocytes in the control of cryptococcosis is limited.

methodsWe investigated microglial responses to Cn infection and the effect of active capsular production by comparing wild-type H99 and acapsular mutant cap59 strains using the CX3CR1-EGFP transgenic mouse and a stereotaxic intracerebral infection model.

resultsMicroglia had difficulty combating Cn H99 infection. Active production and secretion of the capsular material altered the morphology and distribution of microglia around cryptococcomas or fungal brain lesions. It also affected the infiltration of peripheral immune cells to CNS fungal infection. Moreover, RNA sequencing analyses supported the importance of capsule production in immune modulation. Chemotaxis assays demonstrated that active capsular production by Cn H99, and especially GXM, impaired microglial motility and fungal phagocytosis.

conclusionOur findings suggest that microglia may not be able to control cryptococcal CNS infection and that active capsular production and release may contribute to the progression and persistence of cerebral cryptococcosis.

Indexed as

CryptococcosisCryptococcus neoformansPolysaccharidesAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicMicrogliaPhagocytosisglucuronoxylomannanPolysaccharidesC. neoformansCryptococcomaMeningoencephalitisMicrogliaPhagocytosis

Identifiers

PMID40038673
PMCPMC11877788

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Registered trials

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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.