The basidiomycetous yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are closely related sibling species that cause respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals. Within these two recognized species, phylogenetic analysis reveals at least six cryptic species defined as molecular types (VNI/II/B, VNIV, VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV) that comprise the pathogenic Cryptococcus speci...

Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans are encapsulated yeasts that can produce a solid tumor-like mass or cryptococcoma. Analogous to malignant tumors, the microenvironment deep within a cryptococcoma is acidic, which presents unique challenges to host defense. Analogous to malignant cells, NK cells kill Cryptococcus. Thus, as in tumor defense, NK cells must kill yeast cells across a ...

Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged as a pathogen of humans and animals in the temperate climate of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (B.C.). The majority (approximately 95%) of the isolates from the island belong to the VGII molecular type, and the remainder belong to the VGI molecular type. The goals of this study were to compare patterns of molecular variation among C. gattii isolates ...

Sorrell, T., Juillard, P., Djordjevic, J., Kaufman-Francis, K., Dietmann, A., Milonig, A., Combes, V., Grau, G. (2016). Cryptococcal transmigration across a model brain blood-barrier: evidence of the Trojan horse mechanism and differences between Cryptococcus neoformans var grubii strain H99 and C gattii strain R265. Microbes and Infection, 18(1), 57-67. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mic...

Isavuconazole is an extended-spectrum triazole with in vitro activity against a wide variety of fungal pathogens. Clinical isolates of molds Aspergillus lentulus and Neosartorya udagawae and yeast Cryptococcus gattii VGII (implicated in the outbreak in the Pacific Northwest, North America) exhibit reduced susceptibilities to several azoles but higher susceptibilities to isavuconazole.

We compared travel histories of case-patients with Cryptococcus gattii infection during 1999-2006 to travel destinations of the general public on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Findings validated and refined estimates of risk on the basis of place of residence and showed no spatial progression of risk areas on this island over time.

We report a patient in Japan infected with Cryptococcus gattii genotype VGIIa who had no recent history of travel to disease-endemic areas. This strain was identical to the Vancouver Island outbreak strain R265. Our results suggest that this virulent strain has spread to regions outside North America.