Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo

Melanins are found universally in nature and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human fungal pathogens. This study investigated whether the conidia and the yeast cells of the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in v...

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Main Authors: Sirida Youngchim, Roderick J. Hay, Andrew J. Hamilton
Format: Journal
Published: 2018
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Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=13444301597&origin=inward
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/62259
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-622592018-09-11T09:24:35Z Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo Sirida Youngchim Roderick J. Hay Andrew J. Hamilton Immunology and Microbiology Melanins are found universally in nature and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human fungal pathogens. This study investigated whether the conidia and the yeast cells of the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Treatment of conidia with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and concentrated hot acid yielded dark particles that were similar in size and shape to the conidia. A melanin-binding monoclonal antibody (mAb) labelled pigmented conidia, yeast cells and the isolated particles as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical compound, consistent with their identification as melanins. Skin tissue from penicilliosis marneffei patients contained yeast cells that were labelled by melanin-binding mAb. Additionally, sera from P. marneffei-infected mice developed a significant antibody response (both IgG and IgM) against melanin. Phenoloxidase activity capable of synthesizing melanin from L-DOPA was detected in cytoplasmic yeast cell extracts. These findings indicate that P. marneffei conidia and yeast cells can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and that the yeast cells can synthesize pigment in vivo. Accordingly this pigment may play some role in the virulence of P. marneffei. © 2005 SGM. 2018-09-11T09:24:35Z 2018-09-11T09:24:35Z 2005-01-01 Journal 13500872 2-s2.0-13444301597 10.1099/mic.0.27433-0 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=13444301597&origin=inward http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/62259
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
topic Immunology and Microbiology
spellingShingle Immunology and Microbiology
Sirida Youngchim
Roderick J. Hay
Andrew J. Hamilton
Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
description Melanins are found universally in nature and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human fungal pathogens. This study investigated whether the conidia and the yeast cells of the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Treatment of conidia with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and concentrated hot acid yielded dark particles that were similar in size and shape to the conidia. A melanin-binding monoclonal antibody (mAb) labelled pigmented conidia, yeast cells and the isolated particles as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical compound, consistent with their identification as melanins. Skin tissue from penicilliosis marneffei patients contained yeast cells that were labelled by melanin-binding mAb. Additionally, sera from P. marneffei-infected mice developed a significant antibody response (both IgG and IgM) against melanin. Phenoloxidase activity capable of synthesizing melanin from L-DOPA was detected in cytoplasmic yeast cell extracts. These findings indicate that P. marneffei conidia and yeast cells can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and that the yeast cells can synthesize pigment in vivo. Accordingly this pigment may play some role in the virulence of P. marneffei. © 2005 SGM.
format Journal
author Sirida Youngchim
Roderick J. Hay
Andrew J. Hamilton
author_facet Sirida Youngchim
Roderick J. Hay
Andrew J. Hamilton
author_sort Sirida Youngchim
title Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
title_short Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
title_full Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
title_fullStr Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
title_full_unstemmed Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
title_sort melanization of penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo
publishDate 2018
url https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=13444301597&origin=inward
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/62259
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