Abstract

Meningitis is still a worldwide issue caused by Cryptococcus, also known as Cryptococcal meningitis. Cryptococcus infection is dependent on the host’s immune condition. Due to its opportunistic type, this fungus utilizes its evasion mechanism to survive when the immune system is weakened. Detecting this fungus requires the use of a suitable technique because improper handling, particularly during diagnosis, can be harmful. Traditional techniques can identify this fungus, but they are less accurate, necessitating the use of the most recent molecular development techniques. The present remarkable molecular techniques include PCR, metagenomic Next-generation sequencing, MALDI-TOF MS, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and several recently developed techniques, such as rapid duplex flap probe-based isothermal assay (FPIA) and CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection methods. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficiency of molecular-based detection techniques in identifying Cryptococcus. According to the findings of observations in the literature, a number of these molecular techniques can identify Cryptococcus using the most recent technology in terms of principle, benefits, drawbacks, sensitivity, and specificity. Finally, it can be inferred that these techniques hold promise for the advancement of molecular detection capabilities.

Key words: Cryptococcus, Identification Technique, Diagnostic, Molecular, Meningitis