Open AccessA Novel Therapeutic Approach for Cryptococcal Meningitis
Author(s) -
Drew Cutshaw,
Alykhan Premji,
Promila Pagadala,
Charles Giamberardino,
Aaron McCabe,
Shivanand P. Lad,
John R. Perfect
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
open forum infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.546
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2328-8957
DOI - 10.1093/ofid/ofw172.1343
Subject(s) - medicine , cryptococcal meningitis , meningitis , meningococcal meningitis , intensive care medicine , virology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pediatrics , neisseria meningitidis , biology , viral disease , genetics , bacteria
CM is caused when Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete fungal pathogen, invades the central nervous system (CNS) and circulates around the brain and spinal cord in the subarachnoid space (SAS). C. neoformans is a budding yeast that has a diameter ranging in size between 5-10 um, with an extracellular polysaccharide capsule that can reach a diameter upwards of 50-60um total. Cryptococcal cells can mechanically occlude arachnoid villi by shedding their polysaccharide antigen glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), commonly known as Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg). Since the production rate of CSF is independent of intracranial pressure (ICP), this interruption in CSF flow puts infected patients at serious risk of developing elevated ICP and hydrocephalus.
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