Figure 1 Data

Figure 1. The melanin-based immune response is implicated in killing C. neoformans during infection. (A) During infection of G. mellonella, melanized nodules are formed within the hemolymph, which encapsulate C. neoformans. Melanin pigment produced by the fungus, is located typically within the cell wall, while the melanin produced by the insect during encapsulation within nodules is found around and within the fungal polysaccharide capsule. (B) GFP fluorescence is lost in heat killed C. neoformans cells expressing GFP under an actin promoter. Data represents counts of 1,640-1,750 single cells from two separate biological replicates. (C) Using a GFP-expressing strain of C. neoformans, we can visualize cell viability within the nodule, with living fungi fluorescing green and dead cells having no signal. (D) Melanin-encapsulated fungi are statistically less likely to have a GFP-positive signal at 24 h after infection at 30˚C, and at 72 h post infection at room temperature and 30˚C (Chi-squared test, p