This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ikeda, R.
Right arrow Articles by Shinoda, T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ikeda, R.
Right arrow Articles by Shinoda, T.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2002, p. 1214-1218, Vol. 40, No. 4
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.4.1214-1218.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Laccase and Melanization in Clinically Important Cryptococcus Species Other than Cryptococcus neoformans

Reiko Ikeda,1* Takashi Sugita,1 Eric S. Jacobson,2,3 and Takako Shinoda1

Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan,1 Research Service, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249,2 Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-00493

Received 7 May 2001/ Returned for modification 20 September 2001/ Accepted 2 January 2002

The laccase enzyme and melanin synthesis have been implicated as contributors to virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Since isolations of Cryptococcus species other than C. neoformans from clinical specimens have been increasing, we examined the laccase activities of C. albidus, C. laurentii, C. curvatus, and C. humicola. Incubation of cells with epinephrine produced adrenochrome color in C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus but not in C. humicola. Activity was always less than in C. neoformans. Laccase was detected in the soluble fractions of disrupted C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus cells. Activity staining of partially purified enzyme after nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that laccases from C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus migrated more slowly than that from C. neoformans. One strain of C. curvatus exhibited two melanin bands. Thus, several clinically emerging Cryptococcus species express laccase and can synthesize melanin.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan. Phone and fax: 81-424-95-8762. E-mail: ikeda{at}my-pharm.ac.jp.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2002, p. 1214-1218, Vol. 40, No. 4
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.4.1214-1218.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Pereira, C. B., Bueno, F. L., Dias, A. L. T., Brigagao, M. R. P. L., Paula, C. R., Siqueira, A. M. (2009). Evaluation of laccases and melanization in clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans samples by non-denaturing PAGE. J Med Microbiol 58: 563-566 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mandal, P., Banerjee, U., Casadevall, A., Nosanchuk, J. D. (2005). Dual Infections with Pigmented and Albino Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans in Patients with or without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in India. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 4766-4772 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Maligie, M. A., Selitrennikoff, C. P. (2005). Cryptococcus neoformans Resistance to Echinocandins: (1,3){beta}-Glucan Synthase Activity Is Sensitive to Echinocandins. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49: 2851-2856 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Youngchim, S., Hay, R. J., Hamilton, A. J. (2005). Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo. Microbiology 151: 291-299 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nagai, M., Kawata, M., Watanabe, H., Ogawa, M., Saito, K., Takesawa, T., Kanda, K., Sato, T. (2003). Important role of fungal intracellular laccase for melanin synthesis: purification and characterization of an intracellular laccase from Lentinula edodes fruit bodies. Microbiology 149: 2455-2462 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»