Influence of hypoxic conditions on Trichosporon asahii virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model.

OBJECTIVE

Trichosporon spp. Cause disseminated infections in immunosuppressed patients, primarily those with neutropenia. Microbial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract and entities from the inserted catheter are the main sources of bloodstream infections such as candidiasis, although the pathogenesis remains unclear. As human organs are hypoxic, we hypothesized that the hypoxic environment plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endogenous infections.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of a hypoxic environment on the pathogenesis of trichosporonosis using a Galleria mellonella infection model.

RESULTS

Infection by yeast precultured under hypoxic conditions (1% O2) led to shorter survival, a greater fungal burden in the hemolymph of G. mellonella, and significant filamentous growth in the histopathological examination compared with the findings for infection by yeast precultured under aerobic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, lower oxygen environments might influence the pathogenicity of trichosporonosis.