Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the two etiologic agents of
cryptococcosis. They belong to the phylum Basidiomycota and can be readily distinguished …

Copper (Cu) is a redox-active metal ion essential for most aerobic organisms. Cu serves as
a catalytic and structural cofactor for enzymes that function in energy generation, iron …

Free radicals are often described as chemical compounds characterized by unpaired
electrons in their outer orbital rendering them highly reactive species. In mammalians …

Candida species belong to the normal microbiota of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal and
vaginal tracts, and are responsible for several clinical manifestations, from mucocutaneous …

MATERIALS AND METHODS Strains and media. C. neoformans var. grubii strains H99 (70),
KN99a (55), KN99 (55), KN99aNAT, and KN99NAT were maintained at 80 C. Cultures were …

Cryptococcus neoformans produces vesicles containing its major virulence factor, the
capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). These vesicles cross the cell wall to …

The ability of pathogenic fungi to switch between a multicellular hyphal and unicellular yeast
growth form is a tightly regulated process known as dimorphic switching. Dimorphic …

Cryptococcus neoformans is generally considered to be an opportunistic fungal pathogen
because of its tendency to infect immunocompromised individuals, particularly those …

Protein structure and function can be altered by reactive oxygen species produced either by
cell metabolism or by external oxidants. Although catalases, superoxide dismutases and …

The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among
HIV-infected individuals. We utilized the completed genome sequence and optimized …