A titanic drug resistance threat in Cryptococcus neoformans

Hanna Zafar; Sophie Altamirano; Elizabeth R Ballou; Kirsten Nielsen

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2019.11.001

A titanic drug resistance threat in Cryptococcus neoformans

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2019 Dec:52:158-164. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.11.001. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Authors

Hanna Zafar¹, Sophie Altamirano², Elizabeth R Ballou³, Kirsten Nielsen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455 USA.
³ Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: e.r.ballou@bham.ac.uk.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455 USA. Electronic address: knielsen@umn.edu.

Abstract

Increasing resistance to frontline antifungals is a growing threat to global health. In the face of high rates of relapse for patients with cryptococcal meningitis and frequent drug resistance in clinical isolates, recent insights into Cryptococcus neoformans morphogenesis and genome plasticity take on new and urgent meaning. Here we review the state of the understanding of mechanisms of drug resistance in the context of host-relevant changes in Cryptococcus morphology and cell ploidy.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
Cryptococcosis / drug therapy*
Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects*
Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics*
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal*
Humans
Meningitis, Cryptococcal / drug therapy
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology

Substances

Antifungal Agents

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding