Candida parapsilosis is an emerging major human pathogen that has dramatically increased
in significance and prevalence over the past 2 decades, such that C. parapsilosis is now …

Melanins are enigmatic pigments that are produced by a wide variety of microorganisms
including several species of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and helminthes. The study of melanin is …

Cryptococcus neoformans produces vesicles containing its major virulence factor, the capsular
polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). These vesicles cross the cell wall to reach …

Background Melanin pigments are ubiquitous in nature. Melanized microorganisms are often
the dominating species in certain extreme environments, such as soils contaminated with …

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived, diatomic, lipophilic gas that plays an integral role in defending
against pathogens. Among its many functions are involvement in immune cell signaling …

Burn wounds are often complicated by bacterial infection, contributing to morbidity and
mortality. Agents commonly used to treat burn wound infection are limited by toxicity, incomplete …

Melanins are negatively charged, hydrophobic pigments of high molecular weight (54, 88, 95,
139) that are composed of polymerized phenolic and/or indolic compounds (Fig. 1)(45, 128…

Melanin synthesis has been associated with virulence for the human pathogenic fungus
Cryptococcus neoformans. Recent evidence indicates that C. neoformans cells synthesize …

Vesicular secretion of macromolecules has recently been described in the basidiomycete
Cryptococcus neoformans, raising the question as to whether ascomycetes similarly utilize …

Bacteria naturally release membrane vesicles (MVs) under a variety of growth environments.
Their production is associated with virulence due to their capacity to concentrate toxins and …