Open AccessLooking for sex in the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii
Author(s) -
Campbell Leona T.,
Carter Dee A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2006.00087.x
Subject(s) - biology , cryptococcus neoformans , cryptococcus gattii , cryptococcus , cryptococcosis , population , sexual reproduction , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , demography , sociology
Why are we interested in understanding the mode of reproduction being used by the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii ? Empirical evidence has finally supported the long‐held assumption that, by increasing the rate of adaptive evolution, sex increases the chances of long‐term survival. Understanding the ability of pathogenic organisms to adapt to diagnostic and treatment regimes is also important in the fight against the diseases caused by these organisms. This review looks at the different approaches used to identify population structure in C. neoformans and C. gattii . These are sexual species; however, recombination in natural populations has only recently been found. We highlight the importance of population selection and the value of both indirect molecular analysis and direct biological evidence for sexual recombination, when looking for the mode of reproduction in these fungal pathogens.