Peptidorhamnomannan negatively modulates the immune response in a scedosporiosis murine model

In this study, we analyzed the impact of immunization with the peptidorhamnomannan (PRM) from the cell wall of the fungus Scedosporium (Lomentospora) prolificans in a murine model of invasive scedosporiosis. Immunization with PRM decreased the survival of mice infected with S. prolificans. Immunization of mice with PRM led to decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines but did not affect the secretion of IL-10. Mice immunized with PRM showed an increase in IgG1 secretion, which is an immunoglobulin linked to a nonprotective response. Splenocytes isolated from mice infected with S. prolificans and immunized with PRM showed no differences in the percentages of Th17 cells and no increase in the frequency of the CD4(+)CD62L(Low) T cell population. PRM-immunized mice showed a significant increase in the percentage of Treg cells. In summary, our results indicated that immunization with PRM did not assist or improve the immunological response against S. prolificans infection. PRM exacerbated the infection process by reducing the inflammatory response, thereby facilitating colonization, virulence and dissemination by the fungus.