Relating to or caused by Cryptococcus, a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in humans and animals.
From 'Cryptococcus' (the fungal genus name) + '-al' (suffix meaning 'relating to'). Cryptococcus itself derives from Greek 'kryptos' (hidden) + 'kokkos' (berry/grain), named for the fungus's hidden spore structure.
Cryptococcal meningitis is a deadly infection that affects about 1 million people yearly, mostly in Africa—the name 'hidden berry' actually makes sense because the fungus's spores were microscopically hard to spot!
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