Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen

RC May, NRH Stone, DL Wiesner, T Bicanic… - Nature Reviews …, 2016 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2016nature.com
Cryptococcosis is a globally distributed invasive fungal infection that is caused by species
within the genus Cryptococcus which presents substantial therapeutic challenges. Although
natural human-to-human transmission has never been observed, recent work has identified
multiple virulence mechanisms that enable cryptococci to infect, disseminate within and
ultimately kill their human host. In this Review, we describe these recent discoveries that
illustrate the intricacy of host–pathogen interactions and reveal new details about the host …
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a globally distributed invasive fungal infection that is caused by species within the genus Cryptococcus which presents substantial therapeutic challenges. Although natural human-to-human transmission has never been observed, recent work has identified multiple virulence mechanisms that enable cryptococci to infect, disseminate within and ultimately kill their human host. In this Review, we describe these recent discoveries that illustrate the intricacy of host–pathogen interactions and reveal new details about the host immune responses that either help to protect against disease or increase host susceptibility. In addition, we discuss how this improved understanding of both the host and the pathogen informs potential new avenues for therapeutic development.
nature.com