# CCMB cracks code of fungus that turns into giant immune-evading cells 2026-08-21T13:11:18+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Hyderabad's CSIR-CCMB researchers have identified a biological circuit that enables the deadly fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to form giant Titan cells and evade the human immune system, according to a study published in Oxford Academic Genetics in August 2026. The fungus causes nearly one in five AIDS-related deaths globally and can lead to lethal brain infections. The team, led by Dr Sriram Varahan, discovered that efficient glucose metabolism helps maintain proper calcium levels inside the fungal cell, which in turn activates the calcineurin signalling pathway. This master pathway allows the fungus to survive stress inside the human body and transform into Titan cells. The study reveals that metabolism acts not just as an energy supplier but as a decision-making system that controls the fungus's ability to become more dangerous. Rather than acting independently, the fungus's energy metabolism, calcium signalling and calcineurin activation work together as a coordinated network. The findings suggest a new therapeutic approach: instead of killing the fungus outright, future drugs could be designed to prevent it from ever producing Titan cells. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Cryptococcal meningitis kills roughly 1,80,000 people annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, with India reporting thousands of HIV-linked cases each year. Titan cells are 5 to 10 times larger than normal fungal cells and cannot be engulfed by immune cells. The CCMB discovery points to calcineurin, already targeted by immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, as a potential drug target. A therapy that blocks Titan cell formation without killing the fungus could reduce drug resistance. Clinical trials for such a strategy are likely years away, but the study gives researchers a defined molecular pathway to aim at. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com Straightforward reporting of a scientific discovery, no political or ideological slant, quotes the lead scientist for attribution only. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Cryptococcus neoformans, CSIR-CCMB, Hyderabad Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ccmb-cracks-code-of-fungus-that-turns-into-giant-immune-evading-cells/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ccmb-cracks-code-of-fungus-that-turns-into-giant-immune-evading-cells/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/