Figure 1. Inhibition of Notch signaling in mature T cells impairs control of fungal burden in the lungs and the CNS during cryptococcal lung infection.

Transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative Notch inhibitor, DNMAML, within mature T cells (CCD mice) and phenotypically WT littermates (WT) were infected intratracheally with C. neoformans to establish a pulmonary infection. (A) Fungal burdens were quantified from homogenate of the perfused lungs 3, 4, and 6 weeks post infection (wpi). (B) Sections of infected lungs obtained at 6 wpi were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and counterstained with mucicarmine to visualize cryptococci. Representative images from different areas are shown at 10, 40 and 100× power. Note the loose granuloma structure, uncontained extracellular growth of fungal organisms (black arrows) and numerous cryptococcal yeasts within macrophages (open arrows). Fungal burdens were quantified from homogenate of the spleens (C) and brains (D) at 3, 4, and 6 wpi. Data shown represent the mean and standard error from 2-4 pooled experiments with a total n=7-21 mice per time point. *p<0.05, **p<0.01