Fig. 5: Genes with SNPs associated with ITR4 have virulence, IFNγ, and capsule phenotypes.

A Survival curves of mice infected with each of the KN99α deletion mutants. Significance was determined using a two-sided Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test (n = 5–10 mice; itr4Δ P = 0.0472; phs1Δ P < 0.0001). B Fungal CFUs in samples of lungs and brain at terminal endpoints. Significance was determined using a Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test with Dunn’s multiple comparison correction (n = 5–10 mice; Lungs: itr4Δ P < 0.0001; phs1Δ P = 0.0006; CNAG_07528Δ P = 0.0012; Brain: itr4Δ P = 0.0074). C Fold-change of IFNγ levels in lungs relative to an uninfected control. Significance was determined using a Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test (n = 5 mice; itr4Δ P = 0.0387; CNAG_07528Δ P = 0.0417). D Five mice were sacrificed at terminal endpoint and lungs and brains were removed. Cryptococcal cells were collected from each organ, stained with India ink, and imaged. Cell body was measured for at least 150 cells collected from brain or lung of three mice. Cells above dashed line are titan cells. Only one very large (30 µm) cell was collected from the brains of four mice infected with Δ05329. Significance was determined using a Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test. (n = 150; Lung: CNAG_05329Δ 0.0418; itr4Δ P < 0.0001; Brain: phs1Δ P = 0.0036; CNAG_04101Δ < 0.0001; itr4Δ P < 0.0001). E Capsule size in exclusion of cell body was measured for at least 150 cells collected from brain or lung of three mice. Significance was determined using a Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test (n = 150; Lung: phs1Δ P = 0.0005; CNAG_04101Δ P = 0.0025; CNAG_07528Δ P = 0.0056; Brain: phs1Δ P < 0.0001; CNAG_04101Δ < 0.0001; CNAG_07528Δ P < 0.0001; itr4Δ P < 0.0001). Source data are provided as a Source Data file. (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001).