Home • Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans JEC21
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The genome of Cryptococcus neoformans JEC21 (serotype D) was not sequenced by the JGI, but by TIGR. The data (genome assembly and gene predictions) were obtained from GenBank (record PRJNA10698). In order to facilitate comparative fungal genomics a copy of this database was incorporated into MycoCosm. The JGI pipeline was used to functionally annotate the predicted genes.

The following text was part of the GenBank record:

Cryptococcus neoformans (teleomorph: Filobasidiella neoformans ) is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus found world-wide. It is soil-born and is associated with avian excrement, especially pigeon droppings. It is the most common cause of fungal meningoencephalitis in individuals with compromised cell-mediated immunity, especially in AIDS patients. Occasionally the fungus can infect apparently healthy individuals. Cryptococcal disease is acquired via inhalation of haploid yeast or basidiospores from the environment.Genus Filobasidiella contains approximately 38 Cryptococcus species. A few are pathogenic and constitute the pathogenic Cryptococcus species cluster. Two of the species, Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus bacillisporus, are the casual agents of the majority of human and animal cryptococcosis. This genus typically reproduces asexually as haploid, encapsulated budding yeast, but may also be dispersed by means of sexually produced basidiospores. Its mating type locus (MAT) contains more than 20 genes. Usually MAT-a and MAT-alpha cells are involved in mating. However same-sex mating between two MAT-alpha cells has also been observed. Sexual reproduction can play an important role in contributing to virulence of the pathogen. Based on the differences in capsule polysaccharides, Cryptococcus is traditionally subdivided into 5 serotypes - A, B, C, D and AD. The polysaccharide capsule protects the fungus from the host's immune system and is considered a key factor in determining the virulence of cryptococcal infections and disease. Another characteristic that can be used to subdivide the Cryptococcus species is unique molecular types (genotypes).There are two varieties of Cryptococcus neoformans recognized: C. neoformans var. grubii, serotype A and C. neoformans var. neoformans, serotype D. Most isolates are MAT-alpha type which is significantly more virulent than the MAT-a.There are four molecular types of Cryptococcus neoformans recognized: VNI (serotype A), VNII (serotype A), VNIII (serotype AD) and VNIV (serotype D). The majority of the isolates from cryptococcal infections worldwide are VNI with the remainder being reported as one of the other three genotypes.The C. neoformans genome is approximately 19 Mb, organized in 14 chromosomes.

Genome Reference(s)

 

When using these data, please cite:

The Genome of the Basidiomycetous Yeast and Human Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Brendan J. Loftus, Eula Fung, Paola Roncaglia, Don Rowley, Paolo Amedeo, Dan Bruno, Jessica Vamathevan, Molly Miranda, Iain J. Anderson, James A. Fraser, Jonathan E. Allen, Ian E. Bosdet, Michael R. Brent, Readman Chiu, Tamara L. Doering, Maureen J. Donlin, Cletus A. D'Souza, Deborah S. Fox, Viktoriya Grinberg, Jianmin Fu, Marilyn Fukushima, Brian J. Haas, James C. Huang, Guilhem Janbon, Steven J. M. Jones, Hean L. Koo, Martin I. Krzywinski, June K. Kwon-Chung, Klaus B. Lengeler, Rama Maiti, Marco A. Marra, Robert E. Marra, Carrie A. Mathewson, Thomas G. Mitchell, Mihaela Pertea, Florenta R. Riggs, Steven L. Salzberg, Jacqueline E. Schein, Alla Shvartsbeyn, Heesun Shin, Martin Shumway, Charles A. Specht, Bernard B. Suh, Aaron Tenney, Terry R. Utterback, Brian L. Wickes, Jennifer R. Wortman, Natasja H. Wye, James W. Kronstad, Jennifer K. Lodge, Joseph Heitman, Ronald W. Davis, Claire M. Fraser, and Richard W. Hyman

Science 25 February 2005: 307 (5713), 1321-1324