Scienceblogtwo

Scientists have discovered that the deadly fungus Cryptococcus neoformans actually changes in size once it enters a body, boosting its probability of infection. It sounds a little bit like the plot of a horror movie. The fungus can be discovered in the wild in a range of settings, including rotting wood and bird droppings. Once inhaled, it exhibits the same adaptability inside the body, moving from the lungs through the bloodstream to various organs. Once established inside the human body, the infection can cause a variety of illnesses, including the uncommon but potentially fatal condition known as fungal meningitis, which causes swelling in the brain. We may someday be able to treat it more successfully thanks to recent discoveries based on a mouse study. According to University of Utah pathologist Jessica Brown, "Cryptococcus cells in the lungs are quite diverse with different sizes and distinct looks." I was so startled when my graduate student showed me images of the hom...