Protection under drying condition: The capsule collapses and protects the yeast. Ideal size range for alveolar deposition : the cell size reduction, resulting from capsular collapse, places the yeast in the ideal size range for alveolar deposition. [microbeonline.com]

The photos on this post were taken from speimens obtained from an 80 year old woman of Indian heritage who presented with respiratory distress. Unfortunately she succumbed to her infection. [thunderhouse4-yuri.blogspot.com]

CNS (central nervous system) infection may also be present as a brain abscess known as cryptococcomas, subdural effusion, dementia, isolated cranial nerve lesion, spinal cord lesion, and ischemic stroke. [en.wikipedia.org]

Papilledema. 2008. Review Article: Singh, N., Perfect, J. Immune Reconstitution Syndrome Associated with Opportunistic Mycoses. The LANCET Infectious Diseases 2007; Vol.7, Issue 6, 395-401. [antimicrobe.org]

Signs and symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis Headache Fever Change in mental status (ranging from confusion to lethargy to coma) Blurry vision (and other cranial nerve deficits) Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Nausea and vomiting Seizures Papilledema [microbeonline.com]

Signs and symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis Headache Fever Change in mental status (ranging from confusion to lethargy to coma) Blurry vision (and other cranial nerve deficits) Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Nausea and vomiting Seizures Papilledema [microbeonline.com]

Plasma and CSF samples were tested by both real time PCR and the Cryptococcus antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA) (IMMY Inc., Norman, Oklahoma). [nature.com]