Cryptococcus species utilize a variety of sexual reproduction mechanisms, which generate genetic diversity, purge deleterious mutations, and contribute to their ability to occupy myriad environmental niches and exhibit a range of pathogenic potential. The bisexual and unisexual cycles of pathogenic Cryptococcus species are stimulated by properties associated with their environmental niches and proceed through well-characterized signaling pathways and corresponding morphological changes. Genes governing mating are encoded by the mating-type (MAT) loci and influence pathogenesis, population dynamics, and lineage divergence in Cryptococcus. MAT has undergone significant evolutionary changes within the Cryptococcus genus, including transition from the ancestral tetrapolar state in nonpathogenic species to a bipolar mating system in pathogenic species, as well as several internal reconfigurations. Owing to the variety of established sexual reproduction mechanisms and the robust characterization of the evolution of mating and MAT in this genus, Cryptococcus species provide key insights into the evolution of sexual reproduction.

中文翻译：

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有性生殖和交配型基因座的进化：与隐球菌人类致病真菌发病机制的联系。


隐球菌物种利用多种有性繁殖机制，产生遗传多样性，清除有害突变，并有助于其占据无数环境生态位并表现出一系列致病潜力。致病性隐球菌物种的双性和单性循环受到与其环境位相关的特性的刺激，并通过明确表征的信号通路和相应的形态变化进行。控制交配的基因由交配型 (MAT) 位点编码，影响隐球菌的发病机制、种群动态和谱系分歧。 MAT 在隐球菌属内经历了重大的进化变化，包括从非致病物种的祖先四极状态转变为致病物种的双极交配系统，以及一些内部重构。由于该属已建立的有性生殖机制的多样性以及交配和 MAT 进化的稳健特征，隐球菌属物种为有性生殖的进化提供了重要的见解。