FIG 4

Macrophage and microglia in BBB crossing and subsequent fate of Cryptococcus. (A) Intravascular macrophage (mΦ) containing cryptococcal yeast cells (cc) extends a pseudopod outside the vasculature and pulls its cargo along with it. Phagocytes (mpeg⁺) and yeast cells express EGFP. Note that nuclear-localized fluorescence signal emphasizes yeast cells versus phagocytes of the same color. Endothelial cells express cytoplasmic mCherry (magenta). (B) A presumed microglial cell (μglia) tightly associated with the abluminal side of a vessel containing Cryptococcus. (C) A cell with microglial morphology in the parenchyma (yellow arrows indicate ramifications) containing yeast cells along with endothelial cytoplasm (white arrowheads). (D) Fate of crossing instances compiled from the original control data set plus additional replicates performed specifically for this analysis. P values indicate results of a Fisher’s exact test applied to contingency data.