Three new combinations from the Cryptococcus laurentii complex: Cryptococcus aureus, Cryptococcus carnescens and Cryptococcus peneaus

Comparison of primers for RAPD-PCR from environmental isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus laurentii complex

Various organisms have been characterized by molecular methods, including fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. The purposes of this study were: to determine the discriminatory potential of the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers, the pattern of similarity of the Cryptococcus species, and discuss their useful application in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 10 isolates of each specie/...

Xylosyltransferases in Cryptococcus laurentii.

Heteroglycan synthesis in Cryptococcus laurentii.

An enzyme preparation from Cryptococcus laurentii catalyzes the transfer of glycosyl units from sugar nucleotides to exogenous acceptor resulting in the stepwise synthesis of a heteroglycan with the following structure: Z-O-a-n-mannosyl6-O-oc-D-mannosyl-3-~-~-D-mannosyl-(2 -0 -0 -D -xylosyl-) D-mannose. The same enzyme preparation transfers D-[‘T]mannosyl from GDP [WJmannose to an endogenous gl...

Mannosyl transfer in Cryptococcus laurentii.

A particle-bound enzyme from the fungus imperfectus Cryfitococcus taurentii var. flavescens (NRRL Y-1401) mediates transfer of mannosyl units from GDP-mannose to endogenous primer. The enzyme requires divalent cations for activity. The pH optimum is ‘7.5 and the apparent K, for GDP-mannose is 0.14 mbr. A polysaccharide fraction that is associated with the enzyme was found to be similar to a pol...

Diversity of the Cryptococcus neoformans-Cryptococcus gattii species complex.

More than 110 years of study of the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complex has resulted in an enormous accumulation of fundamental and applied biological and clinical knowledge. Recent developments in our understanding of the diversity within the species complex are presented, emphasizing the intraspecific complexity, which includes species, microspecies, hybrids, serot...