Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
11:07
Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans
Published on: December 19, 2014
[Clinical course of cryptococcosis in HIV infection]
Klinicheskaia Meditsina
|March 31, 1999
Abstract:
Cryptococcosis was detected in 17% of examines with AIDS. The disease was caused by fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Most frequently cryptococcosis affected CNS (meningitis and encephalitis). The symptoms were scare and nonspecific, e.g. positive meningitis indicators occurred only in 9% of the patients. Cryptococcosis tends to hematogenic spread with severe dissemination. The diagnosis was made primarily basing on the results of mycological investigations of the biosubstrates, i.e. discovery of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Insights
Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, affects 17% of AIDS patients, often impacting the central nervous system. Diagnosis relies on identifying the fungus in biosubstrates.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunocompromised Host Research
Background:
- Cryptococcosis is a serious fungal infection that disproportionately affects individuals with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- The causative agent, *Cryptococcus neoformans*, is a fungus prevalent in the environment.
- AIDS compromises the immune system, rendering patients highly susceptible to opportunistic infections like cryptococcosis.
Observation:
- This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS.
- Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, including meningitis and encephalitis, was the most frequent manifestation.
- Clinical signs of meningitis were often absent or nonspecific, observed in only 9% of patients, complicating early diagnosis.
Findings:
- *Cryptococcus neoformans* was identified in 17% of examined AIDS patients.
- The infection demonstrated a propensity for hematogenous dissemination, leading to severe, widespread disease.
- Mycological investigation of biosubstrates, specifically the detection of *Cryptococcus neoformans*, was the primary diagnostic method.
Implications:
- The high prevalence underscores the need for vigilant screening and early detection of cryptococcosis in AIDS patients.
- Nonspecific symptoms highlight the diagnostic challenges, emphasizing the importance of laboratory confirmation.
- Understanding the dissemination patterns can inform treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes in immunocompromised populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:20Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
01:19Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet cell...