The parameter Q
provides a measure of the spacing for the diffracting structure
(Figure 1). To explore the origin of this signal we compared the
diffraction spectrum of encapsulated and acapsular C. neoformans
cells in their melanized and non-melanized states (Figure 1). The
acapsular strain samples, whether melanized or non-melanized
produced a spectrum that lacked the amorphous peak but instead
showed several crystalline Bragg peaks (Figure 1).