Figure 3.

Vlp1 regulates fungal pathogenicity in C. neoformans. C57 BL/6 mice (10 mice per group) were used to examine the pathogenicity of each cryptococcal strain. (A) Survival curve of C57 BL/6 mice infected with the wild-type, vlp1Δ mutant, VLP1 complemented, and overexpressed strains. The vlp1Δ mutant is completely avirulent compared with the wild type. ns: not significant; ****, p < 0.0001 (determined by the log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test). (B) Fungal loads in brains, lungs, and spleens of Cryptococcus-infected mice at the end of the experiment. The data shown are mean ± SD of five mice. ****, p < 0.0001 (determined by Mann–Whitney test). (C) H&E-stained slides from the cross-sections of the organs were prepared and observed under a light microscope when the experiment was terminated. The cryptococcal cells are indicated by the arrow. Bars, 20 µm.