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. 2020 Oct 16;40(10):BSR20190337. doi: 10.1042/BSR20190337

Figure 3. Cell surface alterations and cell size changes in C. neoformans.

Figure 3

Model illustrating the cell surface alterations and cell size phenotypes in C. neoformans. The outside of the C. neoformans cell consists of a cell wall (highlighted in pink) and polysaccharide capsule. Typical cells (5–7 μm in diameter) have a capsule predominantly composed of GXM and GalXM (orange box). The cell wall of typical cells contains chitin, chitosan, α-glucan, melanin, and β-glucan (left pink box). Titan cells (>10 μm in diameter) exhibit a thickened cell wall with an increase in chitin, decreased glucan, and a layer of mannan (right pink box) [59]. Micro cells (<1 μm in diameter) also display thickened cell walls [66]. Titanides are 2–4 μm in diameter and are oval in shape. The cell wall of titanides are thinner than typical cells [71]. Abbreviations: GXM, glucuronoxylomannan; GXMGal, glucuronoxylomannogalactin.