Article
Immunology
John W. Baddley, Sharon C-A Chen, Carrie Huisingh, Kaitlin Benedict, Emilio E. DeBess, Eleni Galanis, Brendan R. Jackson, Laura MacDougall, Nicola Marsden-Haug, Hanna Oltean, John R. Perfect, Peter Phillips, Tania C. Sorrell, Peter G. Pappas
Summary: This study compared patients with cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, revealing differences in characteristics, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes between the two species.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Enoch Tay, Sharon C-A Chen, Wendy Green, Ronald Lopez, Catriona L. Halliday
Summary: This study developed a new real-time PCR assay that can diagnose cryptococcosis rapidly and accurately, and differentiate between the two major causative agents. The assay showed high sensitivity and specificity, and can be applied to diverse clinical specimens.
Review
Immunology
Chen Yang, Yemei Huang, Yangyu Zhou, Xuelei Zang, Hengyu Deng, Yitong Liu, Dingxia Shen, Xinying Xue
Summary: Cryptococcus is an invasive fungus that poses a serious threat to human life and health, with a complex and well-established immune-escaping mechanism that interferes with the function of the host immune system.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Herdson Renney de Sousa, Stefania de Frazao, Getulio Pereira de Oliveira Junior, Patricia Albuquerque, Andre Moraes Nicola
Summary: Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus spp, has a high mortality rate and lacks effective prevention and treatment methods. Understanding fungal virulence and host responses could lead to improved therapies. Studies using clinical isolates to correlate laboratory and patient data have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Poppy Sephton-Clark, Scott A. McConnell, Nina Grossman, Rosanna P. Baker, Quigly Dragotakes, Yunfan Fan, Man Shun Fu, Gracen Gerbig, Seth Greengo, J. Marie Hardwick, Madhura Kulkarni, Stuart M. Levitz, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Shmuel Shoham, Daniel F. Q. Smith, Piotr Stempinski, Winston Timp, Maggie P. Wear, Christina A. Cuomo, Arturo Casadevall
Summary: A pet cockatoo is likely the source of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in an immunocompromised patient, as demonstrated by whole genome sequence analysis. The strains from the patient and the cockatoo are closely related and both belong to the VNII lineage. Passage of the cockatoo strain in mice reveals genetic mutations associated with mammalian infection, including a frameshift mutation in a gene encoding a chromatin-remodeling complex protein. Variability in virulence factors is observed between patient strains, mouse-passaged isolates and the cockatoo strain, suggesting the role of animal virulence in genetic changes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Briggith-Nathalia Serna-Espinosa, Diomedes Guzman-Sanabria, Maribel Forero-Castro, Patricia Escandon, Zilpa Adriana Sanchez-Quitian
Summary: The Cryptococcus genus consists of over 80 species, with C. neoformans and C. gattii being pathogenic to humans. They differ in geographic distribution and environmental niche, with C. neoformans found worldwide in bird droppings and C. gattii in tropical regions associated with Eucalyptus trees. In Colombia, environmental isolates of both species complexes are mainly recovered from pigeons' excrement and Eucalyptus trees, respectively, with higher positivity in high humidity and less sunny, cold or temperate regions.
Article
Biology
Andrew Ryan Passer, Shelly Applen Clancey, Terrance Shea, Marcia David-Palma, Anna Floyd Averette, Teun Boekhout, Betina M. Porcel, Minou Nowrousian, Christina A. Cuomo, Sheng Sun, Joseph Heitman, Marco A. Coelho
Summary: The study reveals the mechanism of self-compatibility in the fungal species Cryptococcus depauperatus, which is closely related to human fungal pathogens. Through comparative genomics and analysis of mutants, the researchers demonstrate that the sexual cycle of C. depauperatus involves meiosis and is orchestrated by a mating receptor and pheromone ligand pair. These findings provide insights into transitions between sexual reproduction modes in the fungal kingdom.
Article
Microbiology
Allison Cohen, Edwin E. Jeng, Mark Voorhies, Jane Symington, Nebat Ali, Rosa A. Rodriguez, Michael C. Bassik, Anita Sil
Summary: In this study, a CRISPR-Cas9 screen was used to identify 361 genes that modify macrophage susceptibility to Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) infection, expanding our knowledge on the host gene networks targeted by Hc. Several pathways and genes that were previously not implicated in Hc-macrophage interaction were identified, including the complement C3a receptor (C3aR). The study revealed a specific role for C3aR in macrophage recognition of fungi.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mariana Hiromi Manoel Oku, Carlos Andre Oshiro, Cesar Castello Branco Lopes, Michelle Abdo Paiva, Bruno Guedes, Marcia Rubia Rodrigues Goncalves, Jacy Bezerra Parmera
Summary: This is a case of hemichorea caused by cryptococcal infection in an immunocompetent male patient. The symptoms improved significantly after appropriate medication treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Paulo C. M. Villis, Alessandra T. de Macedo, Haryne L. A. Furtado, Pedro H. C. Fontenelle, Ingrid S. Goncalves, Thayariane L. Mendes, Brenda L. A. Motta, Pedro L. L. Marinho, Aruana J. M. C. R. Pinheiro, Lidio G. Lima-Neto, Cristina A. Monteiro, Luis C. N. da Silva, Gabriella F. Ferreira, Rodrigo A. Holanda, Julliana R. A. Santos
Summary: Cryptococcosis, caused by yeasts of the genus Cryptococcus, is a global infectious disease with increasing resistance to antifungals, highlighting the need for new therapeutic options. The acetate fraction of P. granatum extract showed promising antifungal activity against various Cryptococcus species, indicating its potential as a new treatment option.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Nathan P. Siqueira, Olivia C. Favalessa, Fernanda H. Maruyama, Valeria Dutra, Luciano Nakazato, Ferry Hagen, Rosane C. Hahn
Summary: This study isolated pathogenic Cryptococcus yeasts from excreta of commercially traded parrots and passerines, confirming these animals as potential carriers of the pathogen. The isolates included two genotypes, C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii. The findings suggest that some isolates from bird excreta are genetically indistinguishable from clinical isolates collected over the past two decades.
Article
Microbiology
Ping Zhang, Yu Wang, Chenxi Li, Xiaoyu Ma, Lan Ma, Xudong Zhu
Summary: We have proposed an optimized and simplified construction method that can be used in both Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus deneoformans strains, aiming to accelerate genetic studies in the Cryptococcus species.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mate G. Kiss, Christoph J. Binder
Summary: The complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, with both protective and proatherogenic properties. The role of local complement activation in lesion formation remains unclear.
Article
Microbiology
Zachary E. Holcomb, Julie M. Steinbrink, Aimee K. Zaas, Marisol Betancourt, Jennifer L. Tenor, Dena L. Toffaletti, J. Andrew Alspaugh, John R. Perfect, Micah T. McClain
Summary: This study investigated the host response to different strains of Cryptococcus infection using BALB/cJ mice. The findings showed that the fungal burden and gene expression profiles varied between C. neoformans and C. gattii infection. The host response mainly involved immune function pathways, including complement activation and TH2-skewed responses. A gene classifier was developed to distinguish cryptococcal infection from bacterial infection with high sensitivity and specificity.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Israel Diniz-Lima, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Elias Barbosa da Silva-Junior, Joyce Cristina Guimaraes-de-Oliveira, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Danielle Oliveira Nascimento, Alexandre Morrot, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca-Previato, Debora Decote-Ricardo, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: Cryptococcosis is caused by pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. The latter causes severe undiscriminating infections in immunocompetent individuals and is becoming more prevalent due to climatic factors. The immunopathology of cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii is still poorly understood, but research has helped to uncover its different variants.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)