Diverse species in the genusCryptococcus: Pathogens and their non-pathogenic ancestors

摘要

The genusCryptococcuscomprises of more than 30 species. It consists of clinically significant pathogenicCryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattiispecies complex comprising of a minimum of seven species. These pathogens cost more than 200,000 lives annually by causing cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The evolution of the pathogenic species from closely related non-pathogenic species of theCryptococcus amylolentuscomplex is of particular importance and several advances have been made to understand their phylogenetic and genomic relationships. The current review briefly describes the sexual reproduction process followed by an individual description of the members focusing on their key attributes and virulence mechanisms of the pathogenic species. A special section on phylogenetic studies is aimed at understanding the evolutionary divergence of pathogens from non-pathogens. Recent findings from our group pertaining to parameters affecting codon usage bias in six pathogenic and three non-pathogenic ancestral species and their corroboration with existing phylogenetic reports are also included in the current review.