Soil enables mating and sporulation of Cryptococcus neoformans species complex

The pathogenic yeasts of Cryptococcus neoformans species complex have been isolated in the environment from bird excreta, soil, trees, and decaying wood. Although previous studies showed the ability of C. neoformans species complex to grow and mate on bird excreta and plant materials, there are no studies on soil. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to verify if C. neoformans species complex is able to grow on media containing soil and if it is able to sexually reproduce on this substrate. Soil media were prepared using four different soil samples collected in four different Italian regions, and the two reference strains JEC20 and JEC21 were tested to verify their ability to mate on these media. All the media supported the growth and sexual reproduction confirming that soil represents a realized niche for C. neoformans species complex.