Major histocompatibility complex-dependent susceptibility to Cryptococcus neoformans in mice

Abstract

To evaluate the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in the resistance to Cryptococcus neoformans, we conducted infection experiments in MHC-congenic strains of mice. Significant MHC-dependent susceptibility differences were found among homozygotes and heterozygotes. This study is the first experimental demonstration of MHC-dependent susceptibility to C. neoformans infections in mice and indicates that MHC genes can be important in host resistance.

FIG. 1.

Female MHC-dependent susceptibility to C. neoformans in F₂ segregants. Counts are mean numbers of CFU per whole liver ± standard errors. ⋄, median values. Sample sizes are indicated above each bar. All P values are from a Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results from all other comparisons were insignificant.

FIG. 2.

Resistance to C. neoformans in F₂ segregants is inherited in both a dominant (a) and an underdominant (b) fashion. Counts are mean numbers of CFU per whole liver ± standard errors. ⋄, median values. Sample sizes are indicated above each bar. All P values are from a Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results from all other comparisons were insignificant.