Mechanisms and Virulence Factors of Dissemination to the Central Nervous System.

Cryptococcosis is a prevalent fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by , a yeast with a polysaccharide capsule in the basidiomycete group. Normally, infects the respiratory tract and then breaches the blood-brain barrier (BBB), leading to meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Although the mechanism by which infiltrates the BBB to invade the brain has yet to be fully understood, research has revealed that can cross the BBB using transcellular penetration, paracellular traversal, and infected phagocytes (the "Trojan horse" mechanism). The secretion of multiple virulence factors by is crucial in facilitating the spread of infection after breaching the BBB and causing brain infections. Extensive research has shown that various virulence factors play a significant role in the dissemination of infection beyond the lungs. This review explores the mechanisms of entering the CNS and explains how it bypasses the BBB. Additionally, it aims to understand the interplay between the regulatory mechanisms and virulence factors of .