Cryptococcosis, A Risk for Immunocompromised and Immunocompetent Individuals

Abstract

The genus Cryptococcus includes at least 37 different species, of which, two are important human pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. These fungi are opportunistic pathogens and etiologic agents of cryptococcosis disease in humans and animals. A variety of virulence factors interfere with the establishment of cryptococcal infection is usually acquired via inhalation of environmental basidiospores or desiccated yeasts. Cryptococcosis has gained medical importance over the last decade due to the AIDS pandemic, and become an emerging pathogen of immunocompetent individuals, especially in children. This disease in humans may involve every tissue, including cutaneous and pulmonary sites, but the most serious manifestation is central nervous system involvement with meningoencephalitis. In this review, we briefly described the taxonomy, the fungus biology, epidemiology and clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.

Genotypic Diversity Is Independent of Pathogenicity in Colombian Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Galleria mellonella

“…grubii and var. neoformans ), which is widely distributed and mainly affects immunosuppressed individuals, and Cryptococcus gattii , which can be found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions and affects primarily immunocompetent individuals or patients with certain predisposing risk factors [ 1 , 2 ]. Recently, a new nomenclature has been recommended, naming the isolates as C. neoformans species complex and C. gattii species complex [ 3 ].…”