Fig. 6.

Typical and titan capsule composition. C. neoformans KN99α cells were isolated from lungs of infected mice. Titan cells were separated from typical cells by filtration and treated with γ-radiation for 45 min to remove the capsule polysaccharides. The dissociated capsule was collected in the supernatant, freeze-dried and hydrolyzed with TFA. Absolute monosaccharide amounts were expressed as micrograms per 1 mg of dry weight. Relative carbohydrate content is expressed as percentage of the total recovered capsule material. Glucosamine (A), glucose (B), mannose (C), xylose (D), and galactose (E) were quantified using HPAEC-PAD. Data represent mean of at least 3 replicates in each group. (N = 4 for typical cells and N = 3 for titan cells). T-test or Mann-Whitney test were used to compare mean carbohydrate composition of the capsule of typical and titan cells. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01. TFA: trifluoroacetic acid, ND: note detected.