Update data/rag/knowledge_base/Cryptococcus/laurentii.json

data/rag/knowledge_base/Cryptococcus/laurentii.json

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+  "genus": "Cryptococcus",
+  "species": "laurentii",
+  "full_name": "Cryptococcus laurentii",
+  "clinical_significance": "A rare opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects severely immunocompromised individuals. Associated with fungemia, peritonitis, catheter-related infections, and occasional meningitis. Much less virulent than C. neoformans or C. gattii.",
+  "phenotype_profile": {
+    "morphology": "Encapsulated budding yeasts, capsule smaller than neoformans/gattii.",
+    "culture": "White to cream colonies; does NOT produce melanin on birdseed agar (phenol oxidase negative or weak).",
+    "biochemical": [
+      "Urease positive",
+      "Phenol oxidase weak or negative",
+      "Variable thermotolerance (often poor at 37 °C)",
+      "Assimilation patterns differ from neoformans complex",
+      "No pseudohyphae"
+    ]
+  },
+  "differentiation": {
+    "from close species": [
+      "Does not grow well at 37 °C, unlike neoformans/gattii.",
+      "Usually phenol oxidase negative—no melanin production.",
+      "Environmental/contaminant unless repeatedly isolated from sterile sites."
+    ],
+    "from other genera": [
+      "Urease positivity + capsule distinguish from Candida and Trichosporon.",
+      "Lack of melanin helps differentiate from pathogenic cryptococci."
+    ]
+  },
+  "virulence_factors": [
+    "Capsule (weakly expressed)",
+    "Ability to grow in parenteral solutions (rare)",
+    "Biofilm formation on catheters"
+  ],
+  "confirmation_methods": [
+    "MALDI-TOF MS",
+    "ITS sequencing",
+    "Phenol oxidase and thermotolerance testing"
+  ],
+  "treatment_notes": [
+    "Isolates often susceptible to amphotericin B and fluconazole, but MIC testing recommended.",
+    "Remove infected catheters when applicable."
+  ],
+  "notes": "Most isolates represent colonization or contamination; clinical infection is rare.",
+  "references": [
+    "Cryptococcus laurentii case reports",
+    "Environmental basidiomycete taxonomy"
+  ]
+}