FIG 1.

C. neoformans cells grown under inositol-rich conditions exhibit increased virulence. (A) Schematic of experimental design. (B) Cell morphology of H99 after grown on YNB with inositol or glucose as carbon source for 5 days. Quantitative data of both cell size and capsule size from over 50 cells from each sample are presented. (C and D) Survival rates of mice infected with H99 grown on inositol or glucose medium in a murine intranasal inhalation model (C) or intravenous injection model (D). (E and F) Survival rates of mice infected with H99 cells isolated from infected brains or lungs in a murine intranasal inhalation model (E) or intravenous injection model (F). (G) Cell morphology of H99 isolated from infected brain and lung and incubated on DME medium for 3 days. For cell size measurement, representative images are shown. Bar, 10 μm. Statistical analysis was done using a two-tailed t test. ****, P < 0.0001; ns, not significant. For the animal survival data: ***, P < 0.001; **, P< 0.01. Statistical analysis was done using a log rank (Mantel-Cox) test.