Fungal colonization of the brain: anatomopathological aspects of neurological cryptococcosis

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências

Ana Caroline Colombo¹  Marcio L. Rodrigues¹ 

关键词: Fungal Infections;    Cryptococcus;    meningitis;    meningoencephalitis;    Infecções Fúngicas;    Cryptococcus;    meningite;    meningoencefalite;   

DOI  :  10.1590/0001-3765201520140704

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Brain infection by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans results in an estimated 500,000 human deaths per annum. Colonization of the central nervous system (CNS) by C. neoformans causes different clinical syndromes that involve interaction of a number of fungal components with distinct brain cells. In this manuscript, our literature review confirmed the notion that the Cryptococcus field is expanding rapidly, but also suggested that studies on neuropathogenesis still represent a small fraction of basic research activity in the field. We therefore discussed anatomical and physiological aspects of the brain during infection by C. neoformans, in addition to mechanisms by which brain resident cells interact with the fungus. This review suggests that multiple efforts are necessary to improve the knowledge on how C. neoformans affects brain cells, in order to enable the generation of new therapeutic tools in a near future.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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