Cryptococcus neoformans: Plant-microbe interactions and ecology

While the opportunistic human pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are often isolated from plants and plant-related material, evidence suggests that these Cryptococcus species do not directly infect plants. Studies find plants important for Cryptococcus mating and dispersal, but they lack key insights on plant-fungus interactions indicating pathogenicity. This review synthesizes recent findings from studies utilizing different plant models and ecology of C. neoformans and C. gattii. Unanswered questions about its environmental role are highlighted. Overall, current research indicates Cryptococcus utilizes plants as a substrate rather than harming them, arguing against Cryptococcus as a genuine plant pathogen. We hypothesize plants represent reservoirs that aid dispersal, not hosts vulnerable to infection..