Cryptococcus neoformans

Clint Rodrigue

Word count: 155

The classification of Cryptococcus neoformans:

Kingdom: fungi

                Phylum: basidomycota

                                Class: tremellomycetes

                                                Order: tremellales

                                                                Family: tremellaceae

                                                                                Genus: Cryptococcus

                                                                                                Species: neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that is responsible for cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, among other things. This disease is known to be associated with immunocompromissed people. For this reason, it is considered one of AIDS defining conditions. This is a disease that is transmitted through inhalation of airborne propagules. C. neoformans is commonly found in the soil with avian feces or in rotten or decaying wood. C. neoformans can occur in both humans and animals. C. neoformans can reproduce parasexually and asexually. C. neoformans is encapsulated yeast which causes more resistance to the immune system. Because of the way that C. neoformans can enter the body, it is most likely to cause a lung infection or cryptococcal maningoencephalitis. If someone is not immunocompromised, however, the risk of acquiring C. neoformans is not very high