Fungal colonization of the brain: anatomopathological aspects of neurological cryptococcosis

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2015-08, Vol.87 (2 Suppl), p.1293-1309
Main Authors: Colombo, Ana Caroline, Rodrigues, Marcio L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brain Diseases - cerebrospinal fluid
Brain Diseases - microbiology
Brain Diseases - pathology
Brain Diseases - physiopathology
Cryptococcosis - cerebrospinal fluid
Cryptococcosis - microbiology
Cryptococcosis - pathology
Cryptococcosis - physiopathology
Cryptococcus
Cryptococcus neoformans
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Infecções Fúngicas
meningite
meningoencefalite
MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0001-3765
1678-2690
1678-2690
DOI:10.1590/0001-3765201520140704