FIG. 9.

Life cycle of C. neoformans. Mating begins with conjugation tube formation, leading to cell fusion, followed by formation of dikaryotic filaments with fused clamp connections. Terminal basidia form from the tips of mating filaments, where nuclear fusion (karyogamy) occurs. Meiosis and sporulation follow, and long chains of basidiospores are produced, which subsequently germinate into yeast cells. Filamentation independent of a mating partner (haploid fruiting) is observed in MATα strains in response to nitrogen limitation and dessication.