Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen

Robin C May; Neil R H Stone; Darin L Wiesner; Tihana Bicanic; Kirsten Nielsen

doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2015.6

Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen

Robin C May, Neil R H Stone, Darin L Wiesner, Tihana Bicanic, Kirsten Nielsen

Biosciences

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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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	106-117
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Reviews Microbiology
Volume	14
Issue number	2
Early online date	21 Dec 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2015.6
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2016

Keywords

Antifungal agents
Fungal host response
Fungal immune evasion
Fungal pathogenesis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/nrmicro.2015.6

May-NRMicro-14-253 v4 UHrescan2
Checked 13/06/2016
Accepted author manuscript, 325 KBLicence: None: All rights reserved

DEALING WITH THERAPY-RESISTANT CRYPTOCOCCOSIS BY TARGETING INTRACELLULAR PATHOGENS
May, R.
Medical Research Council
15/10/12 → 14/04/16
Project: Research Councils

Cite this

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title = "Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen",

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.",

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KW - Fungal host response

KW - Fungal immune evasion

KW - Fungal pathogenesis

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Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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DEALING WITH THERAPY-RESISTANT CRYPTOCOCCOSIS BY TARGETING INTRACELLULAR PATHOGENS

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