Cryptococcus neoformans
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
Cryptococcus neoformans
It is an encapsulated yeast that can live in both plants and animals. Its teleomorph is Filobasidiella neoformans, a filamentous fungus belonging to the class Tremellomycetes.
| Kingdom | Fungi |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Basidiomycota |
| Class | Tremellomycetes |
| Order | Tremellales |
| Family | Tremellaceae |
| Genus | Cryptococcus |
| Species | C. neoformans |
| Binomial | Cryptococcus neoformans |
Surface Characteristics
The cell wall contains a linear (1-->3)-linked mannan backbone singly substituted with nonreducing β(1-->2) xylose and β(1-->2) glucuronic acid side branches ; O-acetyl groups are present at C-6 of the mannosyl residues.
Pathogenic Activity
Infection with C. neoformans is termed cryptococcosis. Most infections with C. neoformans consist of a lung infection. However, fungal meningitis, especially as a secondary infection for AIDS patients, is often caused by C. neoformans making it a particularly dangerous fungus. Infections with this fungus are rare in those with fully functioning immune systems. For this reason, C. neoformans is sometimes referred to as an opportunistic fungus.
