Correspondence to: Alexander Idnurm; Email: idnurma@ umkc. edu Submitted: 06/25/11;
Accepted: 06/27/11 DOI: 10.4161/viru. 2.4. 17044 brain, and melanized C. neoformans cells …

The ability to produce melanin is a key virulence factor in many fungal pathogens including
the human basidiomycete pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, a major cause of life …

There is an extensive body of evidence from several laboratories that establishes a role for
melanization in virulence, providing a fascinating example of how a microorganism can …

The fungal human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes melanization in
response to nutrient starvation and exposure to exogenous melanin precursors …

Melanin is a complex dark pigment synthetized by the phenoloxidase enzyme laccase in
Cryptococcus neoformans. In vitro, this enzyme oxidizes exogenous catecholamines to …

Melanin formation is a promising target for antifungal development. We screened a
collection of 727 compounds that were previously approved for clinical use in humans for …

The laccase enzyme and melanin synthesis have been implicated as contributors to
virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Since isolations of Cryptococcus species other than …

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that produces melanin when incubated in
the presence of certain phenolic substrates such as l-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-dopa) …

The pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans produces a laccase enzyme (CNLAC1),
which catalyzes the synthesis of melanin in the presence of phenolic compounds. A number …

Black melanin-like pigments are produced by several neurotropic fungi, including
Cryptococcus neoformans. Pigment production is associated with virulence. In media …