The Invasiveness of Cryptococcus to Dendritic Cells

Abstract

This work focuses on the interaction between life threatening fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.  These pathogens can become extremely dangerous when present in the respiratory tract. Furthermore, immunocompromised individuals might encounter rapid progression of the invasive host. Dendritic cells are innate phagocytes in the lungs, due to their strong presence within the respiratory tract they are largely one of the first cell types to encounter an inhaled pathogen such as Cryptococcus.