Elsevier

Microbes and Infection

Volume 5, Issue 7, June 2003, Pages 667-675
Microbes and Infection

Review
The origin and maintenance of virulence for the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

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Abstract

The origin of virulence in environmental fungi that have no requirement for animal hosts in their life cycle is enigmatic. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human pathogenic fungus with virulence factors for mammalian pathogenesis that also contribute to environmental survival. C. neoformans virulence may originate from selection pressures imposed by environmental predators.

Keywords

Virulence
Fungi
Cryptococcus neoformans
Amoebae
Environment
Ecology
Pathogenicity
Fungal
Virulence factor

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