TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLYCOCONJUGATE VACCINE AGAINST CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS

摘要

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes severe diseases primarily in immunocompromised individuals (e.g. HIV positive patients). C. neoformans is surrounded by a thick layer of capsular polysaccharides (CPS), which is an important virulence factor. In order to investigate the immunobiological properties of the fungal CPSs and to develop glycoconjugate vaccines, chemically synthesised part structures of the fungal CPSs are required.