REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Microbes and Innate Immunity
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1572520
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Role of Microbial Secretomes in Host-Pathogen Interaction and Their Impact on Disease EvolutionView all articles
Virulence factors released by extracellular vesicles from Cryptococcus neoformans
Provisionally accepted
- First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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Cryptococcus neoformans, a prominent opportunistic pathogen, is equipped with unique mechanisms to evade host immune defenses, notably through its capsule and the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Despite significant understanding of its pathogenesis, the precise role of EVs in virulence and their molecular components remain underexplored. This review synthesizes current research on the virulence factors encapsulated within EVs of Cryptococcus, highlighting their contribution to fungal survival and pathogenicity. By analyzing the biochemical composition of these vesicles, we found the presence of enzymes (e.g., Urease, laccase), toxins (e.g. Melanin), and genes (e.g. Ssa1) associated with pathogenicity factors. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings for developing therapeutic interventions. This work advances the field by providing a comprehensive overview of EV-mediated mechanisms in Cryptococcus, offering new insights into potential targets for antifungal strategies.
Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans, extracellular vesicles, Virulence Factors, Mechanism, Therapeutic potential
Received: 07 Feb 2025; Accepted: 22 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xiao, Lu, Jiang, Zheng and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Junyun Huang, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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