Potential therapeutic targets for <i>Cryptococcus</i>

Cryptococcus is a deadly opportunistic pathogenic fungus that causes severe infections such as meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Current antifungal therapeutics face the problem of drug resistance and the limitation of high side effects, and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. The growth and pathogenicity of Cryptococcus depend on its complex metabolic network, and by interfering with the metabolic pathways of Cryptococcus, its virulence can be effectively reduced and the immune response of the host enhanced. This paper systematically summarizes the potential therapeutic targets of protein, sugar, lipid, and metal metabolism of Cryptococcus and their mechanisms of action, which provides theoretical support for the development of novel antifungal drugs and brings new hope to the growing problem of fungal infections.