Abstract: Objective To explore the pathogenic relationship between cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and adhesion of Cryptococcus neoformans (C.neoformans) to host cells. Methods Some drugs and chemical agents were used to pre-treat the yeast to observe the impact of iatrogenic factors on CSH, adhesion to host cells and capsule of the yeasts which were treated pretreated with low concentration of drugs and chemical agents for short duration in vitro. Results The results showed that both amphotericin B (AmB) and fluconazole (FCZ) decreased the adhesion of the yeasts, and caused vasiation of CSH. Ampicillin (AMP) had little influence on CSH and adhesion of the yeasts to host cells, but it caused characteristic ultrastructural changes of outer wall of yeasts and acapsulated changes which were reversible as AmB did. FCZ produced a different ultrazstructural change of the yeast′s wall and capsulated change. The chemical agents, such as PHA, ConA, fucose, mercaptoethanol and trypsin decreased CSH and adhesion level of the yeast while lectin increased adhesion level. Conclusion The above data suggest that there is no significant relationship among CSH, adhesion to host cells and the capsule of C.neoformans which are three independent biologic features of the cell wall surface of yeasts.

Key words: Cryptococcus neoformans, Cell surface hydrophobicity, Adhesion, Capsule