Cryptococcus neoformans – New Science for Discovering Melanin Modifiers

Aim: The present study was taken up to establish the effect of niacinamide on phenoloxidase lead melanogenesis and to prove the reliability of C. neoformans based screening methodology.

Methods: The organism was grown in the Minimal media in presence and absence of L- DOPA and Niacinamide and checked for its pigment producing ability at different time intervals.

Results: Niacinamide did not affect the pigmentation in Cryptococcus neoformans in the absence or presence of L-Dopa.

Conclusion: Cryptococcus neoformans as a biological tool for studying the mechanism of action of various melanin promoters/ inhibitors. The present study highlights the importance and usefulness of Cryptococcus neoformans based screening invention as it is cost effective rapid and ‘living cell model’.