荚膜在小鼠原发性皮肤新生隐球菌感染中的作用

Role of the Capsule of Cryptococcus Neoformans in Primary Cutaneous Cryptococcosis of BALB/c Mice

目的探讨新生隐球菌多糖荚膜在小鼠原发性皮肤新生隐球菌感染中的作用。方法按照笔者建立的原发性皮肤隐球菌感染模型构建方法,将新生隐球菌标准野生株B3501与荚膜缺陷株cap64分别皮内接种于免疫抑制与非抑制的BALB/c小鼠,皮损真菌培养与组织病理检查确证感染。观察2种隐球菌感染的病程,比较皮损形成与消退的时间。结果野生株与荚膜缺陷株新生隐球菌皮下接种于BALB/c小鼠后,均可以在免疫抑制与非抑制的BALB/c小鼠皮肤上产生结节、丘疹、溃疡、传染性软疣样皮损,皮损可以自愈,真菌培养与病理确证为隐球菌感染。2种菌株感染的病程差异无显著性意义。结论野生株与荚膜缺陷株新生隐球菌均可以造成BALB/c小鼠相似的皮肤感染。荚膜可能不是小鼠皮肤隐球菌感染的主要毒力因子。

Objective To investigate the role of capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans in mice cutaneous infection. Methods C. neoformans isolate, B3501, and cap64 mutant were intradermaly inoculated into immunocompetent and immunocompromised BALB/cmice group,respectively. Mycological and histopathologic test of the skin were done to confirm the infection and the course was compared with that of each other groups. Results Different manifestation of the skin infection,such as nodule,papule,ulcer, and lesions mimicking molluscum contagiosum occurred almost in the same manner by the 2 strains of C. neoformans. The courses of mice skin cryptococcal infection caused by the 2 strains had no significant difference. Conclusion Both isolate of C. neoformans, B3501 ,and cap64 mutant,could cause primary mice skin infection almost in the same manner. We suppose that capsule of C. neoformans may be not a key virulent factor in the skin infection.