Scientists identify biological circuit behind ‘Titan cells’ of deadly fungus
Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology have identified a biological circuit that allows the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to form 'Titan cells.' This discovery could lead to new treatments for fungal meningitis by targeting the metabolic pathways that enable the fungus to evade the immune system.
Why it matters
Understanding how deadly fungi adapt and evade immune responses is critical for developing new therapies for persistent, life-threatening infections.
HYDERABAD: A deadly fungus can use its energy metabolism to activate a cellular pathway that helps it transform into giant cells, evade the body’s immune system and establish persistent infections, scientists have found.Researchers at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, have identified a biological circuit behind the formation of “Titan cells” in Cryptococcus neoformans, which could offer a new way to treat cryptococcal infections. The fungus typically causes lung infections but can spread to the brain, causing meningitis that affects over 1,50,000 people globally each year..Explaining how the fungus becomes harder to fight, Dr Sriram Varahan told TNIE, “A key survival strategy of the fungus is its ability to change its size after entering the lungs.
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