Family members include HVA1 (hypervirulence-associated protein 1) whose absence is associated with a hypervirulent phenotype in mice. Metabolomics analysis suggests that when HVA1 is absent there is a block in the citric acid cycle, while structural analysis of the Hva1 protein suggests a potential interaction with NADPH. The structural architecture of Hva1 bears similarity with Tudor domains [1].

1: A Small Protein Associated with Fungal Energy Metabolism Affects the Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans in Mammals. McClelland EE, Ramagopal UA, Rivera J, Cox J, Nakouzi A, Prabu MM, Almo SC, Casadevall A; PLoS Pathog. 2016;12:e1005849. PMID:27583447