RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Bionized nanoferrite particles alter the course of experimental Cryptococcus neoformans pneumonia JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.12.21.473767 DO 10.1101/2021.12.21.473767 A1 Livia C. Liporagi Lopes A1 Preethi Korangath A1 Samuel R. Dos Santos Junior A1 Kathleen L. Gabrielson A1 Robert Ivkov A1 Arturo Casadevall YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/24/2021.12.21.473767.abstract AB Cryptococcosis is a devastating fungal disease associated with high morbidity and mortality even when treated with antifungal drugs. Bionized nanoferrite (BNF) nanoparticles are powerful immunomodulators, but their efficacy for infectious diseases has not been investigated. Administration of BNF nanoparticles to mice with experimental cryptococcal pneumonia altered the outcome of infection in a dose response manner as measured by colony forming units and survival. The protective effects were higher at lower doses, with reductions in IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-α, consistent with immune modulation whereby reductions in inflammation translate into reduced host damage, clearance of infection and longer survival.