Pathogenic fungi could get stronger as the climate grows warmer

What does the research show?   

At present, there are 300 known types of pathogenic fungi, including the most recognised: Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus.

These mainly cause serious problems for those with deficient immune systems. But like many other viruses and diseases, it’s worth checking out how a hotter planet could change that.

In the lab, researchers subjected these common fungi to higher temperatures. What they witnessed was a rapid genetic change in Cryptococcus, the pathogenic fungus which causes meningitis.

These genetic changes allowed the microorganism to quickly accelerate its number of mutations, which in turn increased its ability to adapt and transform the way its genes are used and regulated.

Such mutations enable the pathogenic fungus to withstand a particularly stressful environment. According to the researchers at Duke University, this activity could continue to their advantage while infecting a host. Creepy.

As a result of these findings, the published study lists increased temperatures, potential drug resistance, and increased disease as variables that the medical field should be conscious of.

At present, official figures show that fungal infections cause more annual deaths (1.7 million) than AIDs and tuberculosis. But this is primarily because treatments for the latter two have drastically improved.

Still, there’s also no cause for panic just yet.

It’s likely we will soon see increased efforts to improve treatment for fungal infections, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has prioritised them for public health action.

This means closely monitoring all cases, deaths, and drug resistance related to these pathogens, as well as building upon our knowledge gaps and preventing the global spread of them.

But how about we halt climate change altogether, so we don’t have to worry about pathogenic fungi spirally out of control inside our bodies – deal?