Ultimately, the goal is to find ways to stop deadly disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans from developing in humans and animals. But until that time, finding new and better ways to treat already existent disease and its symptoms is a high priority.
The laboratory of Kirsten Nielsen in the Center for One Health Research has taken a step toward improved treatment of Cryptococcus, completing a six-year study to examine the virulence of 38 clinical isolates from various strains of Cryptococcus. The results are published in Nature Communications.
The question that we’ve been addressing is: Can we predict severe disease outcomes in patients? If we can predict disease outcome then we can treat patients better. In these studies, we identified not just the genes that allow Cryptococcus to cause disease, but also the gene alleles that allow it to cause more disease or less disease.”
Kirsten Nielsen, professor of microbiology and immunology in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Cryptococcus neoformans is a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in humans and many animal species. It’s commonly found in the environment, especially in soil contaminated with bird droppings. When a person inhales the microscopic spores of Cryptococcus, it can lead to an infection called cryptococcosis. This infection often affects the lungs and can spread to the brain. People with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or organ transplant recipients, are at higher risk.Â
“We’re setting the foundation for future treatments,” Nielsen said. “Once we understand