Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance
08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

14.1K

Pathogen and host genetics underpinning cryptococcal disease

Carolina Coelho1, Rhys A Farrer1

  • 1Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.

Advances in Genetics
|June 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cryptococcosis, a severe fungal infection, causes over 220,000 cryptococcal meningitis cases annually. Recent genetic research enhances understanding of Cryptococcus pathogen, host immunity, and disease evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cryptococcosis is a significant fungal disease, with Cryptococcus species causing approximately 220,000 cases of cryptococcal meningitis each year.
  • These ubiquitous fungi are found globally in soil, decaying wood, and bird droppings, leading to infection through inhalation of spores or yeasts.
  • Pathogenesis involves complex interactions between the pathogen and mammalian hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent genetic research on pathogenic Cryptococcus species.
  • To explore epidemiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of Cryptococcus.
  • To discuss host immune responses and insights from genetic models and human disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent genetic research on Cryptococcus.
  • Analysis of genomic tools and datasets for understanding host-pathogen interactions.
  • Examination of data from genetically modified host models and human monogenic disorders.

Main Results:

  • Recent advances offer fundamental insights into factors influencing Cryptococcus pathogenesis and disease.
  • Genomic tools have improved understanding of complex host-pathogen interactions.
  • Insights into host immune responses are being gained from advanced genetic models.

Conclusions:

  • Continued genetic research is crucial for understanding Cryptococcosis.
  • Bioinformatics and genomic tools hold promise for answering outstanding questions in the field.
  • Further investigation into host-pathogen dynamics will aid in disease management.
Keywords:
Cryptococcal diseaseCryptococcosisCryptococcusEcologyEpidemiologyEvolutionImmune response

More Related Videos

Biolistic Transformation of a Fluorescent Tagged Gene into the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans07:32

Biolistic Transformation of a Fluorescent Tagged Gene into the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Published on: March 19, 2015

10.4K
Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity11:21

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Published on: March 12, 2015

11.4K

Related Concept Videos

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis01:23

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder, significantly affects the function of exocrine glands. This genetically inherited disease is characterized by the production of thick and sticky mucus, which can severely affect various organs and systems in the body.
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
629
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.1K
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
315
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
11.4K
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
17.7K
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
15.1K