Cryptococcus albidus meningitis

Melo, Julio C.; Srinivasan, S.; Scott, M.; Raff, Martin J.

doi:10.1016/s0163-4453(80)91865-4

Cited by 39 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, species other than C. neoformans have, in fact, been isolated from normally sterile clinical specimens. We note isolations of C. albidus in septicemia and meningitis (15,22,23), C. laurentii in fungemia (14,19) and meningitis (15), C. curvatus in myeloradiculitis (5), and C. humicola in meningitis (28), all in patients with AIDS or cancer. Thus, cryptococcosis due to species other than C. neoformans may be considered an emerging infection.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laccase and Melanization in Clinically Important Cryptococcus Species Other than Cryptococcus neoformans

et al. 2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The laccase enzyme and melanin synthesis have been implicated as contributors to virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Since isolations of Cryptococcus species other than C. neoformans from clinical specimens have been increasing, we examined the laccase activities of C. albidus, C. laurentii, C. curvatus, and C. humicola. Incubation of cells with epinephrine produced adrenochrome color in C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus but not in C. humicola. Activity was always less than in C. neoformans. Laccase was detected in the soluble fractions of disrupted C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus cells. Activity staining of partially purified enzyme after nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that laccases from C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus migrated more slowly than that from C. neoformans. One strain of C. curvatus exhibited two melanin bands. Thus, several clinically emerging Cryptococcus species express laccase and can synthesize melanin.Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection that complicates a variety of immunocompromising conditions (4). Although 34 species of the genus Cryptococcus are recognized (6), C. neoformans is generally considered to be the pathogenic species, while C. albidus, C. laurentii, and C. curvatus have been regarded as saprophytic species. However, species other than C. neoformans have, in fact, been isolated from normally sterile clinical specimens. We note isolations of C. albidus in septicemia and meningitis (15,22,23), C. laurentii in fungemia (14,19) and meningitis (15), C. curvatus in myeloradiculitis (5), and C. humicola in meningitis (28), all in patients with AIDS or cancer. Thus, cryptococcosis due to species other than C. neoformans may be considered an emerging infection.The virulence of C. neoformans has been ascribed to capsule formation, melanization due to laccase (phenoloxidase), proteinase secretion, and phospholipases (3). Although many pathogenic fungi synthesize precursors of melanin, melanization in C. neoformans occurs when exogenous or environmental catechols or aminophenols are oxidatively polymerized by the laccase enzyme and deposited as melanin in the cell wall (1, 26). Melanization has often been used for the identification of isolates, since growth of brown colonies on birdseed agar made from Guizotia abyssinica, or thistle seeds rich in caffeic acid, is characteristic of C. neoformans (29). However, we noted that several strains of species other than C. neoformans produced light-brown colonies on this medium or on defined medium containing synthetic substrates. In this study, we examined laccase enzymes and melanization in cryptococcal species other than C. neoformans. MATERIALS AND METHODSStrains used. The strains used in this study are listed in Table 1 as accessed in the culture collections Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) and Japan Collection of Microorganisms (JCM). The strains were obtained from each institute directly and maintained on YM agar (Difco) slants. Some of the strains have recently been ...

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laccase and Melanization in Clinically Important Cryptococcus Species Other than Cryptococcus neoformans

et al. 2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To our knowledge, just 26 cases of infection with C. albidus have been reported in the world literature [ Table 1 (1,(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)]. The present case is unusual both because peritonitis with C. albidus has never before been reported, and because cryptococcal peritonitis is in general very rare, with only 4 cases having been reported in patients on PD (24).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Case Report of Cryptococcus Albidus Peritonitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient and a Review of the Literature

Ragupathi

Reyna

2015

Perit Dial Int

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cryptococcus albidus is a saprophytic yeast linked to just 26 reports of human infection in the world literature. Here, we report the first case of C. albidus peritonitis, in a patient with end-stage renal disease and hepatitis C-associated cirrhosis who is on peritoneal dialysis. The patient was treated successfully with a week-long course of amphotericin B. Non-neoformans cryptococcal infections present a clinical challenge, because they are difficult to diagnose and lack established guidelines for treatment. We present a review of the literature on C. albidus infections and their treatment.

show abstract

“…The dog and cat were described as having systemic mycosis, whereas the two horses presented with genital infection and keratitis (Codazza et al, 1973;Desbrosse, 1996;Labrecque et al, 2005;Kano et al, 2008). Human disease due to C. albidus is typically secondary to immunosuppression causing meningitis, cryptococcemia, and cutaneous lesions (Melo et al, 1980;Gluck et al, 1987;Narayan et al, 2000). Lesions due to cutaneous cryptococcosis in a human case report were described as multiple, ulcerative nodules due to granulomatous inflammation and identifiable yeast organisms without serologic evidence of systemic cryptococcemia (Narayan et al, 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptococcus albidus Infection in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

McLeland

Duncan

Spraker

et al. 2012

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cryptococcus albidus meningitis

Cited by 39 publications

References 3 publications

Laccase and Melanization in Clinically Important Cryptococcus Species Other than Cryptococcus neoformans

Laccase and Melanization in Clinically Important Cryptococcus Species Other than Cryptococcus neoformans

Case Report of Cryptococcus Albidus Peritonitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient and a Review of the Literature

Cryptococcus albidus Infection in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About