THE COPPER INTERFERENCE WITH THE MELANOGENESIS OF Cryptococcus neoformans

Authors

  • Renan Marrichi Mauch Federal University of Alfenas; Microbiology and Immunology Department; Biomedical Science Institute
  • Vinícius de Oliveira Cunha Federal University of Alfenas; Microbiology and Immunology Department; Biomedical Science Institute
  • Amanda Latercia Tranches Dias Federal University of Alfenas; Microbiology and Immunology Department; Biomedical Science Institute

Keywords:

Cryptococcus neoformans, Melanin, Copper, Virulence

Abstract

Melanin is a pigment produced by laccase, a phenoloxydase enzyme, and is related to the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans as it is also considered an adaption mechanism to environmental conditions and protection against UV radiation, phagocytic system attack and antifungal drugs. Laccase synthesis is stimulated by several factors, including copper metabolism. The current study shows C. neoformans strains with higher melanization intensity when grown in L-dopa medium supplemented with different concentrations of copper sulfate. This increase shows that melanization rates may be enhanced in the presence of copper ions and may also enhance the virulence of C. neoformans in infected patients that present increasing copper concentrations in serum, such as those with HIV. The virulence of these strains may also be increased in the environment, where this metal is available as CuSO4 in algicidal and fungicidal compounds.

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Published

2013-04-01

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Mycology

How to Cite

Mauch, R. M., Cunha, V. de O., & Dias, A. L. T. (2013). THE COPPER INTERFERENCE WITH THE MELANOGENESIS OF Cryptococcus neoformans. Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 55(2), 117-120. https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/53551