Cryptococcus neoformans
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]
File:Cdiphtheriametachromatic.jpg
C. diphtheriae bacteria, in green, showing metachromatic granules on the ends of the cell. From: http://textbookofbacteriology.net/diphtheria.html
Classification
Higher order taxa
Eukaryota (Kingdom); Fungi (Domain); Basidiomycota (Phylum); Tremellomycetes (Class); Tremellales (Order); Tremellaceae (Family); Cryptococcus (Genus)
Species
C. neoformans v. neoformans, C. neoformans v. grubii. A third variety, C. neoformans v. gattii, is now considered a distinct species, Cryptococcus gattii.
Description
Physical characteristics
C. neoformans is a
Clinical features
Symptoms typically begin 2 to 7 days after infection. Diphtheria is characterized by sore throat, slight fever, fatigue, and an adherent membrane (called a pseudomembrane) on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. Diphtheria toxin produced by C. diphtheriae can cause myocarditis, polyneuritis, and other systemic toxic effects. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin.
