Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is ubiquitous in the environment. It causes a deadly meningitis that is responsible for over 180,000 deaths worldwide each year, including 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. The high mortality rates for this infection, even with treatment...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762018000700206&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797758435870113792 |
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| author | Daniel P Agustinho Liza C Miller Lucy X Li Tamara L Doering |
| author_facet | Daniel P Agustinho Liza C Miller Lucy X Li Tamara L Doering |
| author_sort | Daniel P Agustinho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is ubiquitous in the environment. It causes a deadly meningitis that is responsible for over 180,000 deaths worldwide each year, including 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. The high mortality rates for this infection, even with treatment, suggest a need for improved therapy. Unique characteristics of C. neoformans may suggest directions for drug discovery. These include features of three structures that surround the cell: the plasma membrane, the cell wall around it, and the outermost polysaccharide capsule. We review current knowledge of the fundamental biology of these fascinating structures and highlight open questions in the field, with the goal of stimulating further investigation that will advance basic knowledge and human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:29:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56e9ecbde03043e7bec257feff1baf07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-8060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:29:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz |
| spelling | doaj.art-56e9ecbde03043e7bec257feff1baf072023-08-02T08:19:32ZengFundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz1678-80602018-05-01113710.1590/0074-02760180040S0074-02762018000700206Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformansDaniel P AgustinhoLiza C MillerLucy X LiTamara L DoeringCryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is ubiquitous in the environment. It causes a deadly meningitis that is responsible for over 180,000 deaths worldwide each year, including 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. The high mortality rates for this infection, even with treatment, suggest a need for improved therapy. Unique characteristics of C. neoformans may suggest directions for drug discovery. These include features of three structures that surround the cell: the plasma membrane, the cell wall around it, and the outermost polysaccharide capsule. We review current knowledge of the fundamental biology of these fascinating structures and highlight open questions in the field, with the goal of stimulating further investigation that will advance basic knowledge and human health.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762018000700206&lng=en&tlng=enCryptococcus neoformanspolysaccharide capsulecell wallplasma membrane |
| spellingShingle | Daniel P Agustinho Liza C Miller Lucy X Li Tamara L Doering Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide capsule cell wall plasma membrane |
| title | Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans |
| title_full | Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans |
| title_fullStr | Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans |
| title_short | Peeling the onion: the outer layers of Cryptococcus neoformans |
| title_sort | peeling the onion the outer layers of cryptococcus neoformans |
| topic | Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide capsule cell wall plasma membrane |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762018000700206&lng=en&tlng=en |
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