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Killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae Protects Against Lethal Challenge of Cryptococcus grubii

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Abstract

Heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HKY) vaccination protects mice against aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis, mucormycosis, or candidiasis. We studied HKY protection against murine cryptococcosis. Once weekly subcutaneous HKY doses (S, 6 × 107; 2S, 1.2 × 108; 3S, 2.4 × 108) began 28 (×3), 35 (×4), or 42 (×6) days prior to intravenous Cryptococcus grubii infection. Survival through 28 days, and CFU in the organs of survivors, were compared to saline-vaccinated controls. In the initial experiment, S, S×4, or 2S reduced brain CFU; liver or spleen CFU was reduced by S×4 or 2S. In a more lethal second experiment, 2S×6, 2S, or 3S×4 improved survival, and HKY regimens reduced CFU in the brain, liver, or spleen, with 2S×6, 2S, or 3S×4 most efficacious. Dose size appears more important than the number of doses: Regimens >S were superior, and 2S and 2S×6 were equivalent. 2S and 3S were equivalent, suggesting doses >2S do not provide additional protection. HKY protects against Cryptococcus, supporting components of HKY as a basis for the development of a panfungal vaccine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Institute for Medical Research, 2260 Clove Dr., San Jose, CA, 95128, USA

    Tanya Majumder, Min Liu, Vicky Chen, Marife Martinez, Danielle Alvarado, Karl V. Clemons & David A. Stevens

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, 95128, USA

    Karl V. Clemons & David A. Stevens

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Karl V. Clemons & David A. Stevens

Authors
  1. Tanya Majumder
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  2. Min Liu
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  3. Vicky Chen
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  4. Marife Martinez
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  5. Danielle Alvarado
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  6. Karl V. Clemons
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  7. David A. Stevens
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karl V. Clemons.

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Majumder, T., Liu, M., Chen, V. et al. Killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae Protects Against Lethal Challenge of Cryptococcus grubii . Mycopathologia 178, 189–195 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-014-9798-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-014-9798-5

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