Cryptococcus neoformans: plant–microbe interactions and ecology

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

While the opportunistic human pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are often isolated from plants and plant-related material, evidence suggests that these Cryptococcus species do not directly infect plants. Studies find that plants are important for Cryptococcus mating and dispersal. However, these studies have not provided enough detail about how plants and these fungi interact, especially in ways that could show the fungi are capable of causing disease. This review synthesizes recent findings from studies utilizing different plant models associated with the ecology of C. neoformans and C. gattii. Unanswered questions about their environmental role are highlighted. Overall, current research indicates that Cryptococcus utilizes plants as a substrate rather than harming them, arguing against Cryptococcus as a genuine plant pathogen. We hypothesize that plants represent reservoirs that aid dispersal, not hosts vulnerable to infection.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTrends in Microbiology
ISSN0966-842X
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd

    Research areas

  • Cryptococcus, ecology, plant model, plant–fungus interaction

ID: 390191135