Taxonomic group: fungi / Basidiomycota
(Phylum: Basidiomycota)
Organ / tissue: cell wallAssociated disease: infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans [ICD11:
XN3EH 
]
NCBI PubMed ID: 29742198Publication DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180040Journal NLM ID: 7502619Publisher: Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Correspondence: Doering TL <doering
wustl.edu>
Institutions: Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology, St. Louis, USA
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is ubiquitous in the environment. It causes a deadly meningitis that is responsible for over 180,000 deaths worldwide each year, including 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. The high mortality rates for this infection, even with treatment, suggest a need for improved therapy. Unique characteristics of C. neoformans may suggest directions for drug discovery. These include features of three structures that surround the cell: the plasma membrane, the cell wall around it, and the outermost polysaccharide capsule. We review current knowledge of the fundamental biology of these fascinating structures and highlight open questions in the field, with the goal of stimulating further investigation that will advance basic knowledge and human health.
cell wall, polysaccharide capsule, Cryptococcus neoformans, plasma membrane
Structure type: structural motif or average structure
Location inside paper: p. 3, column 1, paragraph 5
Trivial name: α-1,3-glucan
Compound class: cell wall polysaccharide, glucan
Contained glycoepitopes: IEDB_142488,IEDB_144998,IEDB_146664,IEDB_983931,SB_192
Biological activity: tether polysaccharide capsule to the cell
Enzymes that release or process the structure: Ags1
Comments, role: review
Related record ID(s): 48802, 48803, 48804, 48805, 48806
NCBI Taxonomy refs (TaxIDs): 5207Reference(s) to other database(s): GTC:G02177KX
Show glycosyltransferases
There is only one chemically distinct structure:
Found 
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