Cryptococcus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the genus of scale insects, see Cryptococcus (insect).
Do not confuse Cryptococcus (fungi) with Cryptosporidium (protists).

Cryptococcus
Yeast state of Cryptococcus neoformans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Tremellomycetes
Order: Tremellales
Family: Cryptococcaceae
Genus: Cryptococcus
Vuill. (1901)
Type species
Cryptococcus neoformans
Species

Cryptococcus amylolentus
C. bacillisporus
C. decagattii
C. deneoformans
C. depauperatus
C. deuterogattii
C. gattii
C. luteus
C. tetragattii

Synonyms

Filobasidiella Kwon-Chung (1975) Tsuchiyaea Y. Yamada, H. Kawas., Itoh, I. Banno & Nakase (1988)

Cryptococcus is a

teleomorphs were formerly classified in the genus Filobasidiella, while Cryptococcus was reserved for the yeasts. Most yeast species formerly referred to Cryptococcus have now been placed in different genera. The name Cryptococcus comes from the Greek for "hidden sphere" (literally "hidden berry"). Some Cryptococcus species cause a disease called cryptococcosis
.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by French mycologist

DNA sequences. As a result, some ten species are currently recognized in Cryptococcus.[2]

The teleomorph was first described in 1975 by

anamorph
forms of the same fungus was discontinued, meaning that Filobasidiella became a synonym of the earlier name Cryptococcus.

General characteristics

The cells of species that produce yeasts are covered in a thin layer of glycoprotein capsular material that has a gelatin-like consistency, and that among other functions, serves to help extract nutrients from the soil. The C. neoformans

monosaccharides glucuronic acid, xylose and mannose and can also contain O-acetyl groups. The capsule functions as the major virulence factor in cryptococcal infection and disease.[5]

Some Cryptococcus species have a huge diversity at the infraspecific level with different molecular types based on their genetic differences, mainly due to their geographical distribution, molecular characteristics, and ecological niches.[6]

Cryptococcus species are not known to produce distinct, visible fruitbodies. All teleomorph forms appear to be parasites of other fungi. In teleomorphs the

basidia are club-shaped and highly elongated. Spores arise in succession from four loci at the apex (which is sometimes partly septate). These spores are passively released and may remain on the basidium in chains, unless disturbed.[3]
In the type species, the spores germinate to form yeast cells, but yeast states are not known for all species.

Habitat, distribution and species

Field stain showing Cryptococcus species in lung tissue

Main article: Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is cosmopolitan and is the most prominent medically important species. It is best known for causing a severe form of

sensu stricto and Cryptococcus deneoformans.[10][2]

Main article: Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcus gattii (formerly C. neoformans var. gattii) is endemic to tropical parts of the continent of Africa and Australia. It is capable of causing disease in non-immunocompromised people. In its yeast state it has been isolated from

sensu stricto, C. bacillisporus, 'C. deuterogattii, C. tetragattii, and C. decagattii.[10][2]

Cryptococcus depauperatus is parasitic on Lecanicillium lecanii, an entomopathogenic fungus, and is known from Sri Lanka, England, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Canada.[8][11] It is not known to produce a yeast state.[12] This species grows as long, branching filaments and is self-fertile, i.e. it is homothallic.[13] It can reproduce sexually with itself throughout its life cycle.[13]

corticioid fungus, and is known from England and Italy.[14] It too is not known to produce a yeast state.[15]

Cryptococcus amylolentus was originally isolated as a yeast from beetle tunnels in South African trees. It forms a basidia-bearing teleomorph in culture.[16]

References

  1. ISBN 9780080542690
    .
  2. ^
    PMID 26955199
    .
  3. ^
    PMID 765816
    .
  4. PMID 19694810
    .
  5. ^ Casadevall A, Perfect JR (1998). Cryptococcus neoformans. American Society for Microbiology, ASM Press.
  6. PMID 24278784
    .
  7. PMID 19151324
    .
  8. ^
    S2CID 34250983
    .
  9. ^ a b "What is Cryptococcus infection (cryptococcosis)?". Center for Disease Control and Prevention. April 28, 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  10. ^
    PMID 25721988
    .
  11. S2CID 2752286
    .
  12. PMID 20224779
    .
  13. ^
    PMID 35713948
    .
  14. doi:10.29203/ka.2000.351
    .
  15. S2CID 41798563
    .
  16. PMID 22359516
    .
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