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The polysaccharide β‐1,6‐glucan is a major component of the cell wall of Cryptococcus neoformans, but its function has not been investigated in this fungal pathogen. We have identified and characterized seven genes, belonging to the KRE family, which are putatively involved in β‐1,6‐glucan synthesis. The H99 deletion mutants kre5Δ and kre6Δskn1Δ contained less cell wall β‐1,6‐glucan, grew slowly with an aberrant morphology, were highly sensitive to environmental and chemical stress and were avirulent in a mouse inhalation model of infection. These two mutants displayed alterations in cell wall chitosan and the exopolysaccharide capsule, a primary cryptococcal virulence determinant. The cell wall content of the GPI‐anchored phospholipase B1 (Plb1) enzyme, which is required for cryptococcal cell wall integrity and virulence, was reduced in kre5Δ and kre6Δskn1Δ. Our results indicate that KRE5, KRE6 …