FIG 2 .

Deletion of the KRP1 gene alters the yeast phagocytosis rate but is not necessary for the full virulence of C. gattii. (A) Phagocytosis index was assessed by flow cytometry after 2 h of interaction of FITC-labeled WT, krp1Δ, and krp1Δ::KRP1 strains of cryptococcal cells with J774.A1 macrophages. (B) After 2 h of interaction of WT C. gattii, krp1Δ, and krp1Δ::KRP1 cells with J774.A1 cells, murine cells were lysed, and the numbers of CFU per milliliter were determined. Data are shown as the means plus standard deviations (SD) for three biological replicates. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by posthoc Dunnett test was performed. Values that are significantly different (P < 0.01) from the value for the wild-type strain (R265) are indicated by two asterisks. (C) Virulence assay in an intranasal inhalation infection model using BALB/c mice. (D) Fungal load in mouse lungs collected 24 or 48 h postinfection with C. gattii WT and krp1Δ cells.