Hyderabad, Aug. 21 -- Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, have uncovered a previously unknown biological mechanism that enables the deadly fungus 'Cryptococcus neoformans' to transform into giant "Titan cells", helping it survive immune attack and establish persistent infections in the human body.
The study, led by Dr Sriram Varahan, has identified a direct link between the fungus's energy metabolism, calcium signalling and the Calcineurin pathway in controlling the formation of Titan cells, the Centre said in a release here on Friday.
Cryptococcus neoformans typically begins as a lung infection and can spread through the bloodstream to the brain, causing cryptococcal meningitis, a serious d...