Titan cell production in reshapes the cell wall and capsule composition during infection.

is a human fungal pathogen that often causes infections in immunocompromised individuals. Upon inhalation into the lungs differentiates into cells with altered size and morphology, including production of large titan cells. Titan cells possess thickened cell wall and dense, cross-linked capsule when compared to grown cells. In addition, titan cells have increased cell wall chitin that is associated with a detrimental anti-inflammatory immune response. Here we examined the cell wall and capsule composition of , typical-sized and titan cells using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The monomer composition of cell wall polysaccharides showed that cells contained more glucosamine and less glucose than cells, suggesting alteration in abundance of both chitin and glucans, respectively. Low levels of galactosamine were also detected in carbohydrates from both and cells. Within the cell population, differences in the proportions of cell wall and capsule monomers between typical and titan cells were also observed. Taken together, these results demonstrate that reshapes its cell wall and capsule composition during infection. These cell wall and capsule alterations likely help escape recognition by, and allow modulation of, the host immune system.