Recent advances in Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis

The members of the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes are the main etiological agents of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening fungal infection affecting mostly immunocompromised people, but also immunocompetent hosts or those with unrecognized risk factors. These encapsulated basidiomycete yeasts, which are widely distributed in the environment, are responsible for thousands of cases of pneumonia and meningoencephalitis globally. Despite important improvements in antifungal and antiretroviral therapy, cryptococcal meningitis, the main presentation of cryptococcosis, is still associated with high morbidity and mortality around the world and remains a significant clinical and economic burden in adults from many countries where there is a high HIV seroprevalence. Every year, about 250,000 people suffer from cryptococcal meningitis, with an estimation of more than 180,000 attributable deaths [1]. The goal of this special issue is therefore to provide an update on the most current studies on the pathogenesis, virulence factors, antifungal susceptibility, population genetics, and identification of C. neoformans and C. gattii, as well as on the epidemiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, and treatment of cryptococcosis, both through reviews and original research articles