An integrative ultrastructural and transcriptomic analysis of host–pathogen interactions with human brain microvascular endothelial cells during cryptococcal infection: a preliminary study

Clinical and environmental <i>Cryptococcus</i> isolates exhibit comparable invasive potential and elicit similar host endothelial responses with consistent effects observed across all isolates and time points. This integrative study combining ultrastructural and transcriptomic analyses highlights conserved host-pathogen interactions at the BBB, identifies potential molecular targets for antifungal therapy and underscores the pathogenic relevance of environmental reservoirs in cryptococcal meningitis. cryptococcal meningitis, blood-brain barrier, invasion, transmission electron microscopy, Dual RNASeq, differential gene expression, host-pathogen interaction, HBMECs, ultrastructural alterations.