Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-12-23
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen and has been shown to contribute to the virulence of many human-pathogenic bacteria through its ability to neutralize toxic levels of reactive oxygen species generated by the host. SOD has also been speculated to be important in the pathogenesis of fungal infections, but the role of this enzyme has not been rigorously investigated. To examine the contribution of SOD to the pathogenesis of fungal infections, we cloned the Cu,Zn SOD-encoding gene (SOD1) from the human-pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and made mutants via targeted disruption. The sod1 mutant strains had marked decreases in SOD activity and were strikingly more susceptible to reactive oxygen species in vitro. A sod1 mutant was significantly less virulent than the wild-type strain and two independent reconstituted strains, as measured by cumulative survival in the mouse inhalational model. In vitro studies established that the sod1 strain had attenuated growth compared to the growth of the wild type and a reconstituted strain inside macrophages producing reduced amounts of nitric oxide. These findings demonstrate that (i) the Cu,Zn SOD contributes to virulence but is not required for pathogenicity in C. neoformans; (ii) the decreased virulence of the sod1 strain may be due to increased susceptibility to oxygen radicals within macrophages; and (iii) other antioxidant defense systems in C. neoformans can compensate for the loss of the Cu,Zn SOD in vivo.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10417127, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10474184, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10488097, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10531264, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10613865, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10639402, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10647118, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10736111, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10758168, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10766782, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10842749, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10858240, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-10882608, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11018134, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11092381, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11123698, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11179418, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11270405, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11368899, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11443560, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11447176, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-11907100, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-1456112, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-1651504, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-2050398, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-2117574, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-3058718, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-4553080, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-7574505, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-8063430, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-8608643, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-8621921, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-8647826, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-8936320, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-9009302, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-9343824, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-9722512, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12496163-9918826
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0019-9567
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
71
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
173-80
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-18
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
Superoxide dismutase influences the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans by affecting growth within macrophages.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. gary.cox@duke.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't