For example, there is a clear size polymorphism in the gene encoding the major sporozoite surface antigen circumsporozite protein (CSP), which indicates sequence variation between these strains (data

not shown). CSP contains both T-cell and B-cell epitopes (26,27), and differences between strains at these domains could result in the strain-specific effects we have observed. Interestingly, it has recently been shown that CSP plays only a minimal role in the protection obtained with live sporozoites under anti-blood stage chemoprophylaxis, indicating FK506 purchase the involvement of other, as yet uncharacterized major antigens (28). A future direction of this work is to utilize the strain-specificity of pre-erythrocytic stage immunity apparent between strains of P. c. chabaudi in genetic linkage analyses, including Linkage Group Selection (29), in order to identify these antigens. We thank Les Steven for technical assistance and Sofia Trindade Borges for discussion. This work was supported by The Cunningham BYL719 Trust of the UK (to R.C), A Royal Society Bilateral Grant for Co-operative Research (to R.C and R.L.C) and a Sasakawa Foundation Butterfield Award (to R.L.C). “
“Experimental

Cryptococcus neoformans infection in rats has been shown to have similarities with human cryptococcosis, revealing a strong granulomatous response and a low susceptibility to dissemination. Moreover, it has been shown that eosinophils are components PDK4 of the inflammatory response to C. neoformans infections. In this in vitro study, we demonstrated that rat peritoneal eosinophils phagocytose opsonized live yeasts of C. neoformans, and that the phenomenon involves the engagement of FcγRII and CD18. Moreover, our results showed that the phagocytosis of opsonized C. neoformans triggers eosinophil activation, as indicated by (i) the up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex

(MHC) class I, MHC class II and costimulatory molecules, and (ii) an increase in interleukin (IL)-12, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. However, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis by eosinophils was down-regulated after interaction with C. neoformans. Furthermore, this work demonstrated that CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from spleens of infected rats and cultured with C. neoformans-pulsed eosinophils proliferate in an MHC class II- and class I-dependent manner, respectively, and produce important amounts of T-helper 1 (Th1) type cytokines, such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, in the absence of T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine synthesis. In summary, the present study demonstrates that eosinophils act as fungal antigen-presenting cells and suggests that C. neoformans-loaded eosinophils might participate in the adaptive immune response.