Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii: Separate varietal status for Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A isolates

Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans presently includes isolates which h ale been determined by the immunologic reactivity of their capsular polysac charides to be serotype A and those which have been determined to be seroty pe D. However, recent analyses of the URA5 sequences and DNA fingerprinting patterns suggest significant genetic differences between the two serotypes . Therefore, we propose to recognize these genotypic distinctions, as well as previously reported phenotypic differences, by restricting C. neoformans var. neoformans to isolates which are serotype D and describing a new vari ety, C. neoformans var. grubii, for serotype A isolates.