PERSPECTIVE article
Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Fungal Pathogenesis
This article is part of the Research TopicEvolutionary Adaptation in Human-Infecting Fungi: Ecological Traits and PathogenicityView all 8 articles
The Emergence of Neuroinvasive Cryptococcus: Why Eucalyptus-Rich Regions, especially in Africa, May Be Facing Greater Risk
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- 2Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Exeter, United Kingdom
- 3University of Cape Town Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
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Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is often approached under the assumption that Cryptococcus neoformans strains from any environment have equal potential for rapid central nervous system (CNS) invasion. This one-size-fits-all view shapes both treatment strategies and how virulence is studied. In this short communicationcont, we highlight increasing evidence showing that environmental nutrient profiles can "pre-condition" C. neoformans for distinct pathogenic trajectories. For example, phosphate-rich pigeon guano often yields small-capsule morphotypes suited for systemic dissemination, but their propensity for CNS invasion appears modest compared to inositol-rich eucalyptus-associated strains, which adopt small-cell, large-capsule phenotypes with cell surface features optimized for blood-brain barrier traversal and CNS adaptation. While pigeon guano-derived isolates can cause CM under certain host or epidemiological contexts, the scale of CNS disease linked to regions with more eucalyptus trees appears disproportionately higher in affected regions. Recognizing these ecological influences, we suggest a reframing of CM not as an inevitable outcome of exposure, but as a risk also modulated by environmental context, offering new avenues for surveillance, prediction, and targeted intervention.
Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans, Eucalyptus, Inositol, neurotropism, Virulence
Received: 17 Oct 2025; Accepted: 04 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hilaire, Dambuza, Mukaremera and Dangarembezi. 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:
IRERE Hilaire
IVY Dambuza
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