[Current topics in molecular medical mycology: new-stream Cryptococcus neoformans and other pathogenic fungi studies]

Model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human genome projects have been completed and proteomics is a major focus in postgenomic and postsequence research in biology and medicine. In 2004, the genome project on pathogenic yeast Candida albicans was completed, as was the Cryptococcus neoformans genome in 2005. The Aspergillus fumigatus genome project is currently under way. To use molecular data, such as phylogenic analysis, pathogenic factor analysis, and proteomics-based drug discovery/development, proteome analysis of pathogenic fungi has been conducted globally. I summarize up-to-date information on new-stream Cryptococcus neoformans and other pathogenic fungi studies based on molecular medical mycology.