Vishniacozyma victoriae (syn. Cryptococcus victoriae) in the homes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic children in New York City

Rush, Rachael E.; Dannemiller, Karen C.; Cochran, Samuel J.; Haines, Sarah R.; Acosta, Luis; Divjan, Adnan; Rundle, Andrew; Miller, Rachel L.; Perzanowski, Matthew S.; Croston, Tara L.; Green, Brett J.

doi:10.1038/s41370-021-00342-4

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Allergic airway diseases such as asthma are a growing concern in industrialized nations like the United States (Barnes, 2004) and environmental microbial exposures have been shown to influence these diseases (Black et al, 2000). The adverse human health effects associated with environmental fungal exposures have heightened public awareness, and the development of modern methods of fungal detection in indoor environments have highlighted the need to study yeasts (Dotterud et al, 1995;Park et al, 2008;Dannemiller et al, 2014;Dannemiller et al, 2016;Rush et al, 2021). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first in vivo study examining the pulmonary immune response to the environmental yeast species, Vishniacozyma victoriae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vishniacozyma victoriae (ATCC MYA-305) was cultivated for exposures as previously described (Rush et al, 2021). Briefly, liquid cultures were grown in Potato Dextrose Broth (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) at 15°C.…”

Section: Fungal Cultivation and Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the frequent detection of yeasts in indoor and outdoor environments, mice were repeatedly exposed to C. neoformans and V. victoriae, or PBS, to mimic a sustained pulmonary exposure over time (Levitz, 1991;Rush et al, 2021). One day following repeated PBS aspiration, mild inflammation, and mucous production were observed in the lungs of control mice (Figures 2A, B).…”

Section: Neoformans and V Victoriae Induced Airway Inflammationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies examining fungal exposure in health-based cohorts have indicated that low Cryptococcus diversity was highly associated with asthma development. Furthermore, previous studies found that V. victoriae concentrations in homes were inversely associated with asthma (Rush et al, 2021). Yet, a knowledge gap remains regarding the in vivo response to this frequently detected yeast species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…C. neoformans is capable of growth at 37°C and has a rigid polysaccharide capsule that allows for the evasion of the immune system leading to cryptococcal infections primarily in immunocompromised individuals (Levitz, 1991;Idnurm and Lin, 2015;Campuzano and Wormley, 2018). Cryptococcus victoriae (since renamed Vishniacozyma victoriae) is highly prevalent in indoor environments (Pitkaranta et al, 2008;Dannemiller et al, 2016;Lutz et al, 2020;Rush et al, 2021). Vishniacozyma victoriae was isolated in the Antarctic (Montes et al, 1999) and has since been detected in indoor and outdoor environments worldwide (de Menezes et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Persisting Cryptococcus yeast species Vishniacozyma victoriae and Cryptococcus neoformans elicit unique airway inflammation in mice following repeated exposure

Rush

Blackwood²,

Lemons³

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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BackgroundAllergic airway disease (AAD) is a growing concern in industrialized nations and can be influenced by fungal exposures. Basidiomycota yeast species such as Cryptococcus neoformans are known to exacerbate allergic airway disease; however, recent indoor assessments have identified other Basidiomycota yeasts, including Vishniacozyma victoriae (syn. Cryptococcus victoriae), to be prevalent and potentially associated with asthma. Until now, the murine pulmonary immune response to repeated V. victoriae exposure was previously unexplored.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the immunological impact of repeated pulmonary exposure to Cryptococcus yeasts.MethodsMice were repeatedly exposed to an immunogenic dose of C. neoformans or V. victoriae via oropharyngeal aspiration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were collected to examine airway remodeling, inflammation, mucous production, cellular influx, and cytokine responses at 1 day and 21 days post final exposure. The responses to C. neoformans and V. victoriae were analyzed and compared.ResultsFollowing repeated exposure, both C. neoformans and V. victoriae cells were still detectable in the lungs 21 days post final exposure. Repeated C. neoformans exposure initiated myeloid and lymphoid cellular infiltration into the lung that worsened over time, as well as an IL-4 and IL-5 response compared to PBS-exposed controls. In contrast, repeated V. victoriae exposure induced a strong CD4+ T cell-driven lymphoid response that started to resolve by 21 days post final exposure.DiscussionC. neoformans remained in the lungs and exacerbated the pulmonary immune responses as expected following repeated exposure. The persistence of V. victoriae in the lung and strong lymphoid response following repeated exposure were unexpected given its lack of reported involvement in AAD. Given the abundance in indoor environments and industrial utilization of V. victoriae, these results highlight the importance to investigate the impact of frequently detected fungal organisms on the pulmonary response following inhalational exposure. Moreover, it is important to continue to address the knowledge gap involving Basidiomycota yeasts and their impact on AAD.

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