Cryptococcus gattii
Classification
"Cryptococcus gattii"
Eukaryota; Fungi; Basidiomycota; Tremellomycetes; Tremellales; Cryptococcaceae; Cryptococcus [1].
Introduction
Cryptococcus gattii is a fungal pathogen originating in Australian eucalyptus and almond trees [2]. that has been known to cause respiratory failure and serious central nervous system complications when infecting a human host [3]. Although the pathogenicity of C. gattii has in large part already been investigated, the global distribution of the microbe is unclear because strains of the fungus have only been found in places where samples are tested - areas of high-incidence [4]. This yeast is endemic in parts of Australia, and is normally found in tropical and subtropical areas. However, it has recently been identified as the cause of a cryptococcosis outbreak in British Columbia and parts of the American Pacific Northwest [2]. C. gattii is a leading cause of pulmonary cryptococcosis, basal meningitis, and cerebral cryptococcomas whose emergence, it has been suggested, is a result of changing climate conditions [5].
Genome structure
Cell structure
The cell diameter of most C. gattii cells typically ranges from 3-5 micrometers [3]. Most cells are roughly circular in shape, although it is capable of changing the size and shape of its capsule to avoid an immune response. C. gattii has a polysaccharide capsule, which is its main virulence factor [3]. C. gattii is typically found in the yeast form. It typically reproduces through asexual budding in both the environment and inside human hosts once an infection has occurred [2]. It is possible for sexual reproduction to occur. Cells can also undergo a dimorphic transition to hyphae to create a mycelium and generate basidiospores [2].
Metabolic processes
Ecology
Pathology
Current Research
Other
2000-2001 Outbreak: Between January 1999 and December 2001, an outbreak of cryptococcosis occurred in British Columbia [12]. Approximately 38 cases of human cryptococcosis were recorded; all were caused by C. gattii. 95.2% of these human cases were identified as the VGII strain, and the remaining case was identified as VGI [12]. All isolates from environmental samples were identified as the VGII strain, which was determined to have caused this outbreak in British Columbia. British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest are both new locations for this microbe; C. gattii was previously found only in tropical and subtropical locations [12].
References
It is required that you add at least five primary research articles (in same format as the sample reference below) that corresponds to the info that you added to this page. [Sample reference] Faller, A., and Schleifer, K. "Modified Oxidase and Benzidine Tests for Separation of Staphylococci from Micrococci". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1981. Volume 13. p. 1031-1035.
