Fungi Adapt To Body Heat And Resist Drugs: Is It A Cause Of Concern?

A recent study has revealed alarming developments in the world of fungal pathogens, showing that some fungi are adapting to body heat and becoming resistant to antifungal drugs, a potential 'doomsday scenario' for human health. This evolution is believed to be linked to climate change, presenting a new and underestimated threat.

Fungal infections: Rare but on the rise

Despite the ubiquity of fungal spores in our environment, only about 20 out of millions of fungal species can infect humans, thanks to our robust immune systems and relatively high body temperatures, which most fungi cannot survive. However, the study published in Nature Microbiology suggests that certain fungi are evolving to overcome these barriers.

Climate change and fungal evolution

The study points to climate change as a driving factor in this evolution. As global temperatures rise, fungi are exposed to higher temperatures, which may trigger mutations that enable them to survive in warmer conditions, including the human body.

Case studies in China

Researchers analyzed records of fungal infections from 98 hospitals in China over a decade (2009-2019) and identified two rare cases involving fungal species not previously known to cause human disease. These fungi, R. fluvialis and R. nylandii, were found to thrive at human body temperature (37°C) and had developed resistance to antifungal drugs. Laboratory tests confirmed that these fungi could infect immunocompromised mice, suggesting a similar risk for humans with weakened immune systems.

Implications and concerns

The ability of these fungi to tolerate higher temperatures and mutate rapidly at 37°C raises significant concerns. "This paper shows that the same mechanism could exist in many other organisms that don't currently cause human disease, meaning they could adapt to do so," warned Jatin Vyas, a fungal pathogen expert at Harvard Medical School.

How is global warming's triggering resistance? 

The study authors concluded that global warming is facilitating the evolution of drug-resistant and more virulent fungal pathogens. "Heat tolerance is a known virulence factor," noted Toni Gabaldón, an evolutionary biologist at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, as per media reports. This indirect conclusion highlights a broader implication: as the planet warms, more fungal species may adapt to higher temperatures and pose increased health risks to humans.