<i>Cryptococcus</i> displays spore-specific uptake by alveolar epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Human fungal pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans, cause 1.5 million annual deaths. Cryptococcus causes disease when it disseminates out of the lung and into the brain, which can occur years after initial exposure (latency) via mechanisms that remain unknown. Spores of Cryptococcus display distinct surface epitopes, host interactions, and disease kinetics to the vegetatively growing yeast morphotype, yet they remain understudied, likely contributing to our lack of understanding of pathogenesis. One of the first barriers spores encounter is non-professional phagocytic airway epithelial cells (AECs). Here, we demonstrate that Cryptococcus spores are preferentially internalized by AECs both in vitro and in vivo. Once insid

SUBMITTER: Ortiz SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12607909 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature