Polysaccharide diversity in VNI isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from Roraima, Northern Brazil.

Species of the Cryptococcus genus comprise environmental, encapsulated fungal pathogens that cause lethal meningitis in immunosuppressed individuals. In humans, fungal uptake of hypocapsular Cryptococcus by macrophages was associated with high fungal burden in the cerebrospinal fluid and long-term patient survival. On the basis of the key role of the cryptococcal capsule in disease, we analyzed the diversity of capsular structures in 23 isolates from pigeon excreta collected in the cities of Boa Vista, Bonfim and Pacaraima, in the state of Roraima (Northern Brazil). All isolates were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans (VNI genotype) by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Through a combination of fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA and spectrophotometric methods, each isolate was characterized at the phenotypical level, which included measurements of growth rates at 30 and 37 °C, pigmentation, cell body size, capsular dimensions, serological reactivity, urease production and ability to produce extracellular glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), the main capsular component of C. neoformans. With the exception of melanization, a formidable diversity was observed considering all parameters tested in our study. Of note, hyper and hypo producers of GXM were identified, in addition to isolates with hyper and hypo profiles of reactivity with a polysaccharide-binding monoclonal antibody. Capsular dimensions were also highly variable in the collection of isolates. Extracellular GXM production correlated positively with capsular dimensions, urease activity and cell size. Unexpectedly, GXM concentrations did not correlate with serological reactivity with the cryptococcal capsule. These results reveal a high diversity in the ability of environmental C. neoformans to produce capsular components, which might impact the outcome of human cryptococcosis.

Jet-Setting Koalas Spread Cryptococcus gattii VGII in Australia.

Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII is one of the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis, a systemic mycosis affecting a wide range of host species. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) exhibit a comparatively high prevalence of cryptococcosis (clinical and subclinical) and nasal colonization, particularly in captivity. In Australia, disease associated with C. gattii VGII is typically confined to Western Australia and the Northern Territory (with sporadic cases reported in eastern Australia), occupying an enigmatic ecologic niche. A cluster of cryptococcosis in captive koalas in eastern Australia (five confirmed cases, a further two suspected), caused predominantly by C. gattii VGII, was investigated by surveying for subclinical disease, culturing koala nasal swabs and environmental samples, and genotyping cryptococcal isolates. URA5 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provided supportive evidence that the transfer of koalas from Western Australia and subsequently between several facilities in Queensland spread VGII into uncontaminated environments and environments in which C. gattii VGI was endemic. MLST identified VGII isolates as predominantly sequence type 7, while WGS further confirmed a limited genomic diversity and revealed a basal relationship with isolates from Western Australia. We hypothesize that this represents a founder effect following the introduction of a koala from Western Australia. Our findings suggest a possible competitive advantage for C. gattii VGII over VGI in the context of this captive koala environment. The ability of koalas to seed C. gattii VGII into new environments has implications for the management of captive populations and movements of koalas between zoos.IMPORTANCECryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII is one of the causes of cryptococcosis, a severe fungal disease that is acquired from the environment and affects many host species (including humans and koalas). In Australia, disease caused by C. gattii VGII is largely confined to western and central northern parts of the country, with sporadic cases reported in eastern Australia. We investigated an unusual case cluster of cryptococcosis, caused predominantly by C. gattii VGII, in a group of captive koalas in eastern Australia. This research identified that the movements of koalas between wildlife parks, including an initial transfer of a koala from Western Australia, introduced and subsequently spread C. gattii VGII in this captive environment. The spread of this pathogen by koalas could also impact other species, and these findings are significant in the implications they have for the management of koala transfers and captive environments.

Cryptococcosis in the Amazon: A current overview and future perspectives.

The Amazon region or regional Amazon complex includes nine states of Brazil with an area of around 5.1 million km, which is almost 60% of the country's territory. The sanitary conditions in this region are reflected by illness resulting from substandard living conditions and limited access to prevention measures and health care, in addition to the epidemiological profile of cryptococcosis. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on cryptococcosis in the Amazon region and its future prospects. Thus, the present study searched the Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System, Virtual Health Library, PubMed, and CAPES Periodical Portal for studies on cryptococcosis in the Amazon region, with an established search period of 1999 to 2018, using the search terms "Cryptococcus," "cryptococcosis," and "Amazon" with the Boolean operator AND. Out of 275 articles found, 29 were selected according to the inclusion criteria and were categorized into clinical and environmental studies. Analysis of these studies verified the increased occurrence of infection by Cryptococcus gattii at younger ages in the supposedly immunocompetent and the predominance of C. neoformans in HIV-positive patients. No occurrence of Cryptococcus laurentii infection has been identified in the literature. The regional endemic molecular types included VNI, VNII, and VGII. Similarly, the strain sequence type (ST) allelic profiles, including ST5, 7, 20, and 264-268, were identified in C. gattii isolated in Amazonas state. VNI isolates are a genetically monotypic group, with ST93 being highly important in HIV individuals. In urban environments, cryptococcosis agents were isolated in samples collected fromtrees, wooden houses, and dove excrement. Due to the absence of a control program and specific epidemiological surveillance for the primary disease, cryptococcal meningitis has become a failure parameter in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. The findings of the present study underscore the need for programs to track cryptococcal antigens and identify high-risk populations in order to reduce the morbimortality of this disease.

Dragotcytosis: Elucidation of the Mechanism for Cryptococcus neoformans Macrophage-to-Macrophage Transfer.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast capable of a unique and intriguing form of cell-to-cell transfer between macrophage cells. The mechanism for cell-to-cell transfer is not understood. In this study, we imaged mouse macrophages with CellTracker Green 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate-labeled cytosol to ascertain whether cytosol was shared between donor and acceptor macrophages. Analysis of several transfer events detected no transfer of cytosol from donor-to-acceptor mouse macrophages. However, blocking Fc and complement receptors resulted in a major diminution of cell-to-cell transfer events. The timing of cell-to-cell transfer (11.17 min) closely approximated the sum of phagocytosis (4.18 min) and exocytosis (6.71 min) times. We propose that macrophage cell-to-cell transfer represents a nonlytic exocytosis event, followed by phagocytosis into a macrophage that is in close proximity, and name this process Dragotcytosis ("Dragot" is a Greek surname meaning "sentinel"), as it represents sharing of a microbe between two sentinel cells of the innate immune system.

Solving the mystery: Hyalinized cyst wall containing organism-like structures in a lung transplant donor.

A 59-year-old man with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. The donor, a 31-year-old male declared brain dead after a gunshot wound to the head, was considered high risk due to history of incarceration, illicit drug use, and sex with a HIV-positive partner. At organ procurement, the heart, kidneys, pancreas, and liver looked grossly normal. A small right lower lobe nodule was noticed, and lung biopsy was performed. Bronchoscopy showed purulent secretions in the right lower lobe. Images from pathology are presented. Lung biopsy confirmed the presence of hyalinized cyst wall containing organism-like structures. A combination of culture, microscopic morphology, and gene sequencing was used to identify the causative organism. The patient and all other organ recipients received appropriate antifungal prophylaxis and remain asymptomatic 6 months post-transplant.

Introns in Cryptococcus

In Cryptococcus neoformans, nearly all genes are interrupted by small introns. In recent years, genome annotation and genetic analysis have illuminated the major roles these introns play in the biology of this pathogenic yeast. Introns are necessary for gene expression and alternative splicing can regulate gene expression in response to environmental cues. In addition, recent studies have revealed that C. neoformans introns help to prevent transposon dissemination and protect genome integrity. These characteristics of cryptococcal introns are probably not unique to Cryptococcus, and this yeast likely can be considered as a model for intron-related studies in fungi.

The Southeastern Asian house mouse (Mus musculus castaneus Linn.) as a new passenger host for Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii molecular type VNI.

We describe Mus musculus castaneus as a new mammalian host for Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (VNI). Eighteen apparently healthy adults and pups of the rodent were collected from human dwellings in Varanasi, a city of India. Both clinical and behavioral examinations of the rodents did not reveal any sign of the disease. Among visceral organs, histological examination of only liver exhibited the presence of single celled, encapsulated, Southgate's mucicarmine positive fungal structures consistent with C. neoformans. Nevertheless, culture of tissue homogenates of brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys yielded white colonies on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and brown mucoid colonies of C. neoformans on Staib's and Tobacco agar media. The pathogen was isolated from habitat soil as well as fresh faeces of the animals. All isolates were urease positive, nitrate and canavanine-glycine bromothymol blue negative, exhibited phenoloxidase activity and grew at 37°C. The isolates were identified as C. neoformans var. grubii with ITS primers and unique marker (GACA)4. The pathogen when inoculated in immunosuppressed mice showed low pathogenicity. To our knowledge, we for the first time report case cluster of Mus musculus castaneus as new passenger host for C. neoformans var. grubii (VNI).

Disseminated cryptococcal infection in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients: a rare cause of acute kidney injury.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can be lifesaving for some of the deadliest hematologic diseases. However, immunosuppression, polypharmacy and risk of infectious complications associated with HSCT can increase morbidity and mortality for recipients. Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after HSCT can be as high as 70%, and concomitant infection can be a therapeutic challenge for oncologists, nephrologists and infectious disease specialists. We illustrate this challenge in the case of a 31-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who underwent a double cord HSCT complicated by GvHD, systemic cryptococcal and BK virus infections and AKI. Kidney biopsy showed round to cup-shaped organisms with occasional budding, consistent with Cryptococcus and thrombotic microangiopathy. We discuss our findings and a literature review of disseminated cryptococcal infection with renal involvement after HSCT.

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment.

INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcosis is an invasive disease acquired by inhalation of infectious propagules from the environment. Currently, compulsory notification of the spread of this disease is not required in Colombia. However, reporting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome cases to the National Surveillance System has suggested that there is a growing population at risk of contracting cryptococcosis. Few studies have described the occurrence of cryptococcosis in Colombia. Therefore, in this study, we examined the pathology of this disease in Atlántico, Colombia and determined the distributions of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in the environment. METHODS: Clinical samples/isolates were gathered from cases of cryptococcosis previously diagnosed at health institutions in Atlántico, and surveys were completed by clinicians. The environmental study considered 32 sampling points and three tree species, i.e., Quickstick ( Gliricidia sepium ), Almond ( Terminalia catappa ), and Pink trumpet ( Tabebuia rosea ). Environmental and clinical samples/isolates were analyzed for phenotypic and genotypic confirmation. RESULTS: From 1997-2014, 41 cases of cryptococcosis were reported. The mean patient age was 40.5 years (range: 18-63 years); 76% were men, and 78% were HIV positive. Isolation was possible in 38 cases ( C. neoformans , molecular type VNI in 37 cases and C. gattii , molecular type VGI in one case). In 2012-2014, 2,068 environmental samples were analyzed with a positivity of 0.4% ( C. neoformans , molecular type VNI) in Almond and Pink trumpet trees. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptococcus neoformans , molecular type VNI had a higher prevalence than C. gattii and was associated with human exposure and the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis in this geographical region.

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION:Cryptococcosis is an invasive disease acquired by inhalation of infectious propagules from the environment. Currently, compulsory notification of the spread of this disease is not required in Colombia. However, reporting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome cases to the National Surveillance System has suggested that there is a growing population at risk of contracting cryptococcosis. Few studies have described the occurrence of cryptococcosis in Colombia. Therefore, in this study, we examined the pathology of this disease in Atlántico, Colombia and determined the distributions of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in the environment.METHODS:Clinical samples/isolates were gathered from cases of cryptococcosis previously diagnosed at health institutions in Atlántico, and surveys were completed by clinicians. The environmental study considered 32 sampling points and three tree species, i.e., Quickstick ( Gliricidia sepium ), Almond ( Terminalia catappa ), and Pink trumpet ( Tabebuia rosea ). Environmental and clinical samples/isolates were analyzed for phenotypic and genotypic confirmation.RESULTS:From 1997-2014, 41 cases of cryptococcosis were reported. The mean patient age was 40.5 years (range: 18-63 years); 76% were men, and 78% were HIV positive. Isolation was possible in 38 cases ( C. neoformans , molecular type VNI in 37 cases and C. gattii , molecular type VGI in one case). In 2012-2014, 2,068 environmental samples were analyzed with a positivity of 0.4% ( C. neoformans , molecular type VNI) in Almond and Pink trumpet trees.CONCLUSIONS:Cryptococcus neoformans , molecular type VNI had a higher prevalence than C. gattii and was associated with human exposure and the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis in this geographical region.

Systemic fungal infections in patients with human inmunodeficiency virus.

Histoplasmosis is a systemic infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. In immunocompromised patients, primary pulmonary infection can spread to the skin and meninges. Clinical manifestations appear in patients with a CD4(+) lymphocyte count of less than 150 cells/µL. Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. It can present as diffuse pulmonary disease or as a disseminated form primarily affecting the central nervous system, the bones, and the skin. Cryptococcosis is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans (var. neoformans and var. grubii) and Cryptococcus gattii, which are members of the Cryptococcus species complex and have 5 serotypes: A, B, C, D, and AD. It is a common opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, even those receiving antiretroviral therapy. Histopathologic examination and culture of samples from any suspicious lesions are essential for the correct diagnosis of systemic fungal infections in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Donor-derived Cryptococcus infection in liver transplant: case report and literature review.

Cryptococcosis occurring within 30 days after transplant is unusual. We present a case of cryptococcosis diagnosed within 2 weeks of liver transplant and cryptococcal infection transmitted by liver transplant is considered as the cause. A 63-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma had an orthotopic liver transplant from a 45-year-old donor. The immediate postoperative course was smooth, although she was confused with a fever, tachycardia, respiratory failure of 1 week's duration after the orthotopic liver transplant. A liver biopsy was performed for hyperbilirubinemia 2 weeks after the orthotopic liver transplant that showed a Cryptococcus-like yeast. Her blood culture was reexamined, and it was confirmed as Cryptococcus neoformans that had been misinterpreted as candida initially. At the time of the re-examination, her sputum was clear. We checked her preoperative blood sample, retrospectively, for serum cryptococcal antigen with negative result. She was on liposomal amphotericin treatment for 1 month when her blood culture became negative. She was discharged home, with good liver function and a low antigen titer for cryptococcal infection. Cryptococcal disease usually develops at a mean of 5.6 months after transplant. However an early occurrence is rare. Apart from that, its variable clinical presentations make early detection difficult. It might be an early reactivation or a donor-derived infection. The latter usually occurs in unusual sites (eg, the transplanted organ as the sole site of involvement). Our case presented as cryptococcoma and liver involvement was diagnosed by an unintentional liver biopsy.

Transmission of Hypervirulence traits via sexual reproduction within and between lineages of the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus gattii.

Since 1999 a lineage of the pathogen Cryptococcus gattii has been infecting humans and other animals in Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the USA. It is now the largest outbreak of a life-threatening fungal infection in a healthy population in recorded history. The high virulence of outbreak strains is closely linked to the ability of the pathogen to undergo rapid mitochondrial tubularisation and proliferation following engulfment by host phagocytes. Most outbreaks spread by geographic expansion across suitable niches, but it is known that genetic re-assortment and hybridisation can also lead to rapid range and host expansion. In the context of C. gattii, however, the likelihood of virulence traits associated with the outbreak lineages spreading to other lineages via genetic exchange is currently unknown. Here we address this question by conducting outgroup crosses between distantly related C. gattii lineages (VGII and VGIII) and ingroup crosses between isolates from the same molecular type (VGII). Systematic phenotypic characterisation shows that virulence traits are transmitted to outgroups infrequently, but readily inherited during ingroup crosses. In addition, we observed higher levels of biparental (as opposed to uniparental) mitochondrial inheritance during VGII ingroup sexual mating in this species and provide evidence for mitochondrial recombination following mating. Taken together, our data suggest that hypervirulence can spread among the C. gattii lineages VGII and VGIII, potentially creating novel hypervirulent genotypes, and that current models of uniparental mitochondrial inheritance in the Cryptococcus genus may not be universal.

Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov., novel yeasts isolated from the nasal smear microbiota of Queensland koalas kept in Japanese zoological parks.

A total of 515 yeast strains were isolated from the nasal smears of Queensland koalas and their breeding environments in Japanese zoological parks between 2005 and 2012. The most frequent species in the basidiomycetous yeast biota isolated from koala nasal passages was Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Rhodotorula minuta. R. minuta was the most frequent species in the breeding environments, while C. neoformans was rare. Seven strains representing two novel yeast species were identified. Analyses of the 26S rDNA (LSU) D1/D2 domain and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region sequences indicated that these strains represent new species with close phylogenetic relationships to Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. A sexual state was not found for either of these two novel yeasts. Key phenotypic characters confirmed that these strains could be placed in Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. The names Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10013(T) = JCM 15449(T) = CBS 10915(T) = DSM 21093(T), DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB375774 (ITS) and AB375775 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802688, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3174), and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10017(T) = JCM 18398(T) = CBS 12623(T) = DSM 25814(T), DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB702967 (ITS) and AB702967 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802689, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3175) are proposed for these new species.

[Invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant]. / Infección fúngica invasora en el trasplante de órgano sólido.

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) represent a serious threat for patients undergoing solid organ transplantation (SOT). IFI in SOT has a significant incidence and mortality not due to negligence. The management of IFI in SOT involves specific recommendations and has been individualized to the type of transplant and patient. The current review presents an overview of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IFI in TOS. Depending on risk factors for different IFIs and transplant type, this paper includes the main recommendations based on previous publications and on the opinion of the authors on the prophylaxis and treatment of these patients. These recommendations highlight epidemiology changes and the emergence of new antifungals. The current document has focused mainly on Candidaspp. and Aspergillusspp., with a special mention to the rest of yeasts and moulds that are common in SOT.

DNA mutations mediate microevolution between host-adapted forms of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.

The disease cryptococcosis, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, is acquired directly from environmental exposure rather than transmitted person-to-person. One explanation for the pathogenicity of this species is that interactions with environmental predators select for virulence. However, co-incubation of C. neoformans with amoeba can cause a "switch" from the normal yeast morphology to a pseudohyphal form, enabling fungi to survive exposure to amoeba, yet conversely reducing virulence in mammalian models of cryptococcosis. Like other human pathogenic fungi, C. neoformans is capable of microevolutionary changes that influence the biology of the organism and outcome of the host-pathogen interaction. A yeast-pseudohyphal phenotypic switch also happens under in vitro conditions. Here, we demonstrate that this morphological switch, rather than being under epigenetic control, is controlled by DNA mutation since all pseudohyphal strains bear mutations within genes encoding components of the RAM pathway. High rates of isolation of pseudohyphal strains can be explained by the physical size of RAM pathway genes and a hypermutator phenotype of the strain used in phenotypic switching studies. Reversion to wild type yeast morphology in vitro or within a mammalian host can occur through different mechanisms, with one being counter-acting mutations. Infection of mice with RAM mutants reveals several outcomes: clearance of the infection, asymptomatic maintenance of the strains, or reversion to wild type forms and progression of disease. These findings demonstrate a key role of mutation events in microevolution to modulate the ability of a fungal pathogen to cause disease.

[Cutaneous mycoses in Japan originating from animals].

Human cases of dermatophytoses are occasionally transmitted from animals, and suffered from tinea corporis and sometimes Kerion celsi. The most frequent causative agent of these diseases is Microsporum canis. The other dermatophyte, Arthroderma benhamiae is now prevailing in rabbits, rodents and hedgehogs that are popular household pets in Japan. Therefore, some human cases of A. benhamiae infection were reported and the transmission of this infection from rabbits and rodents was confirmed.Cryptococcosis is regarded as dangerous zoonosis, but its transmission from animal to peoples has not been documented in Japan. Animal cases of cryptococcosis are possible to increase in number by developing immunosuppressive animals as well as by spreading of newly introduced C. gattii to Japan.Animal cases of sporotrichosis are rarely reported in Japan. However, feline sporotrichosis should be prevented and promptly treated since it easily transmitted to people from cat lesions and the exudates where copious numbers of organisms are found in tissues.