Profiling a killer, the development of Cryptococcus neoformans. 2012

Lukasz Kozubowski, and Joseph Heitman
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

The ability of fungi to transition between unicellular and multicellular growth has a profound impact on our health and the economy. Many important fungal pathogens of humans, animals, and plants are dimorphic, and the ability to switch between morphological states has been associated with their virulence. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised and, in some cases, immunocompetent hosts. Cryptococcus neoformans grows vegetatively as a budding yeast and switches to hyphal growth during the sexual cycle, which is important in the study of cryptococcal pathogenicity because spores resulting from sexual development are infectious propagules and can colonize the lungs of a host. In addition, sexual reproduction contributes to the genotypic variability of Cryptococcus species, which may lead to increased fitness and virulence. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of C. neoformans, our knowledge is still incomplete. Recent studies have led to the emergence of many intriguing questions and hypotheses. In this review, we describe and discuss the most interesting aspects of C. neoformans development and address their impact on pathogenicity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011995 Recombination, Genetic Production of new arrangements of DNA by various mechanisms such as assortment and segregation, CROSSING OVER; GENE CONVERSION; GENETIC TRANSFORMATION; GENETIC CONJUGATION; GENETIC TRANSDUCTION; or mixed infection of viruses. Genetic Recombination,Recombination,Genetic Recombinations,Recombinations,Recombinations, Genetic
D003455 Cryptococcus neoformans A species of the fungus CRYPTOCOCCUS. Its teleomorph is Filobasidiella neoformans. Blastomyces neoformans,Debaryomyces neoformans,Filobasidiella neoformans,Lipomyces neoformans,Saccharomyces neoformans,Torula neoformans,Torulopsis neoformans,Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013172 Spores, Fungal Reproductive bodies produced by fungi. Conidia,Fungal Spores,Conidium,Fungal Spore,Spore, Fungal
D014774 Virulence The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The pathogenic capacity of an organism is determined by its VIRULENCE FACTORS. Pathogenicity
D016867 Immunocompromised Host A human or animal whose immunologic mechanism is deficient because of an immunodeficiency disorder or other disease or as the result of the administration of immunosuppressive drugs or radiation. Immunosuppressed Host,Immunocompromised Patient,Host, Immunocompromised,Host, Immunosuppressed,Hosts, Immunocompromised,Hosts, Immunosuppressed,Immunocompromised Hosts,Immunocompromised Patients,Immunosuppressed Hosts,Patient, Immunocompromised,Patients, Immunocompromised
D016919 Meningitis, Cryptococcal Meningeal inflammation produced by CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS, an encapsulated yeast that tends to infect individuals with ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME and other immunocompromised states. The organism enters the body through the respiratory tract, but symptomatic infections are usually limited to the lungs and nervous system. The organism may also produce parenchymal brain lesions (torulomas). Clinically, the course is subacute and may feature HEADACHE; NAUSEA; PHOTOPHOBIA; focal neurologic deficits; SEIZURES; cranial neuropathies; and HYDROCEPHALUS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp721-2) Cryptococcal Meningitis,Granulomous Cerebral Cryptococcosis,Toruloma,Cerebral Cryptococcosis,Cerebral Cryptococcoses,Cerebral Cryptococcoses, Granulomous,Cerebral Cryptococcosis, Granulomous,Cryptococcal Meningitides,Cryptococcoses, Cerebral,Cryptococcoses, Granulomous Cerebral,Cryptococcosis, Cerebral,Cryptococcosis, Granulomous Cerebral,Granulomous Cerebral Cryptococcoses,Meningitides, Cryptococcal,Torulomas
D025301 Hyphae Microscopic threadlike filaments in FUNGI that are filled with a layer of protoplasm. Collectively, the hyphae make up the MYCELIUM. Hypha,Hyphas

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