The key difference between Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans is that Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that causes cryptococcosis, while Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes candidiasis.
Yeast is a group of about 1500 species of single-celled fungi. Most species in this yeast group belong to the phylum Ascomycota, and only a few belong to Basidiomycota. Yeasts are found word wide in the soil, on plant surfaces, and in sugary media like flower nectar and fruits. Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans are two fungal species in the yeast group.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cryptococcus Neoformans
3. What is Candida Albicans
4. Similarities – Cryptococcus Neoformans and Candida Albicans
5. Cryptococcus Neoformans vs Candida Albicans in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cryptococcus Neoformans vs Candida Albicans
What is Cryptococcus Neoformans?
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast causing cryptococcosis. This yeast infection is popularly seen in patients who are immunocompromised by diseases like AIDS. It is an encapsulated yeast that belongs to the class Tremellomycetes. Cryptococcus neoformans is also an obligate aerobe that lives in both plants and animals. Moreover, this fungus, in its teleomorph state, is a filamentous fungus. In its yeast state, it is commonly found in bird excrement. Cryptococcus neoformans can cause disease in immunocompetent as well as immunocompromized hosts.
Figure 01: Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection that mainly affects the lungs and brain. When it affects the lungs, it causes pneumonia. On the other hand, when it affects the brain, it causes meningitis. The symptoms may include cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain, fever, headache, neck pain, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, confusion, and changes in behaviour. It also affects other parts of the body, including the skin, which causes several fluid-filled nodules with dead tissue. The diagnosis of the infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans can be performed by isolating the fungus from a sample of affected tissue or by direct observation using staining of body fluids, cultures from cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, the treatment options for cryptococcosis may include fluconazole or amphotericin B.
What is Candida Albicans?
Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes candidiasis. It is normally a common member of the human gut flora. It can survive outside the human body. Candida albicans is identified in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40 to 60% of healthy adults. Though Candida albicans is a commensal organism, it can also become pathogenic in immunocompromised individuals under a variety of conditions. It is a species of the genus Candida that causes the human infection called candidiasis. Candidiasis is due to the overgrowth of Candida albicans.
Figure 02: Candida Albicans
The signs and symptoms of candidiasis are white patches on the tongue or other areas of the mouth and throat, soreness and problems with swallowing, genital itching, burning, white cottage cheese-like discharge from the vagina, itchy rash in the penis, and fever. Candidiasis can be diagnosed through identification by light microscopy (scraping or swab sample), fungal culture, and endoscopy. Furthermore, candidiasis is treated through antifungal medications like clotrimazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B, and echinocandin (caspofungin or micafungin).
What are the Similarities Between Cryptococcus Neoformans and Candida Albicans?
- Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans are two fungal species in the yeast group.
- Both species are pathogenic.
- Both species cause human infections.
- The infections caused by them can be diagnosed through laboratory testing.
- The infections caused by them can be treated with antifungal medications.
What is the Difference Between Cryptococcus Neoformans and Candida Albicans?
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that causes cryptococcosis, while Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes candidiasis. Thus, this is the key difference between Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. Furthermore, Cryptococcus neoformans belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, while Candida albicans belongs to the phylum Ascomycota.
The below infographic presents the differences between Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Cryptococcus Neoformans vs Candida Albicans
Yeast is a group of many species of single-celled fungi. These species can be found in different environments, such as soil, plants, and animals. This group also includes pathogenic fungi as well. Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans are two fungal species in the yeast group. Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that causes cryptococcosis while Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes candidiasis. So, this summarizes the difference between Candida albicans is that Cryptococcus neoformans.
Reference:
1. “Candida Albicans: Infections, Symptoms, and Treatments.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “C. Neoformans Infection.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Cryptococcus” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Candida albicans 2” By Dr Graham Beards – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia