A novel mycovirus identified in clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans.

A novel Totivirus infecting Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in six clinical isolates from HIV-positive patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

• Why it matters: Understanding mycoviruses in clinically relevant fungi like C. neoformans is crucial because they may influence fungal physiology and virulence, impacting disease outcomes.
• What they did: Researchers searched for viral RdRP signatures in publicly available transcriptomic data, validated the presence of the virus in three isolates via RT-PCR, and characterized two genotypes of a new Totivirus species.
• The result: The discovery of this mycovirus in C. neoformans highlights its potential role in the pathogen’s biology and suggests further investigation into its impact on cryptococcal disease.