Capsular detection in different cryptococcal species. (A, C, and E to G) IFA for GXM with MAb 18B7 (green); the cell wall is stained with UviTex2B (blue). (B, D, and H) India ink. Cells were grown for 6 days in MM at 25°C. (A and B) C. amylolentus; (C and D) C. neoformans var. grubii; (E to H) C. podzolicus. (A) Some cells showed positive staining for GXM, closely surrounding the cell wall. (B) The India ink exclusion test revealed the presence of a clear halo that is not homogeneous for all cells. (C) Characteristic capsular pattern for GXM stain. (D) Clear halo corresponding to the capsule. (E) Only a small number of cells in strain CBS 6490 stained positive for MAb 18B7, showing a punctate pattern around the cell body and stronger intensity in the budding daughter cell. (F and G) Strains CBS 9357 and CBS 9358 did not show any positive staining for MAb 18B7. (H) C. podzolicus did not exhibit positive India ink exclusion. The deposition of GXM in C. amylolentus and C. podzolicus did not suggest the presence of a capsule similar to that of C. neoformans. Scale bar, 10 µm.