Will climate change lead to more fungal infections?

Will climate change lead to more fungal infections?

The Growing Threat of Fungal Infections in a Changing Climate.

The Ubiquity and Impact of Fungi

Fungi are among the most abundant organisms on the planet, present in the air, soil, and even inside our bodies. While they play a crucial role in ecosystems and human health, they also pose significant risks as disease-causing pathogens. Despite their prevalence, fungal research remains underexplored, with less than 10% of the estimated 1.5 to 3.8 million fungal species described, and only a fraction having their genetic material sequenced.

How Climate Change is Driving Fungal Adaptation

Fungi have an incredible ability to adapt to different environments. As climate change progresses, fungi are evolving to withstand higher temperatures and are spreading to new geographical locations, including urban areas. This shift could have serious consequences for human health, as many fungi that were once unable to survive at human body temperature may now be adapting to do so.

Additionally, changing habitats and weather patterns are increasing the spread of pathogenic fungi to previously unaffected regions, putting new populations at risk.

Rising Threat of Fungal Infections

Currently, over 200 fungal species are known to cause disease in humans, collectively leading to an estimated 2.5 million deaths each year. The actual number could be much higher due to underdiagnosis and limited surveillance. Climate change is exacerbating the risk in several ways:

1. Pathogenic Fungi Expanding to New Regions

As global temperatures rise, fungi such as Coccidioides—which thrives in hot, dry environments—are expanding their range, increasing cases of respiratory infections in new areas.

2. Emergence of New Fungal Pathogens

Candida auris, considered the first fungal pathogen to emerge due to climate change, developed resistance to antifungal drugs and has rapidly spread across healthcare settings, causing severe infections.

3. Extreme Weather Events Spreading Fungal Spores

Wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves can disperse fungal spores over vast distances. Natural disasters leave populations vulnerable to infections due to injuries, poor sanitation, and overcrowded living conditions.

4. Increasing Risk of Zoonotic Fungal Diseases

Habitat destruction and climate-induced environmental changes increase the chances of fungal diseases transferring from animals to humans.

5. Threat to Food Security

Fungal pathogens are responsible for reducing crop yields by up to a third, contaminating food and animal feed. The widespread agricultural use of antifungal drugs contributes to rising resistance, mirroring challenges seen with antibiotic resistance in medicine.

6. Antifungal Drug Resistance

Higher global temperatures may enhance fungi’s ability to develop resistance against existing antifungal treatments, making infections harder to control.

The Importance of Fungi in Ecosystems and Medicine

Despite the growing health threats, fungi provide numerous benefits to ecosystems and human well-being:

Enhancing Soil and Plant Resilience: Fungi decompose organic matter, recycle nutrients, and help plants withstand climate extremes, benefiting food security.

Carbon Sequestration: Certain fungi help trees and forests absorb more carbon dioxide, playing a role in mitigating climate change.

Medical Breakthroughs: Fungi have contributed to the development of antibiotics (e.g., penicillin), and ongoing research explores their potential in cancer treatments, epilepsy medication, and mental health therapies.

Addressing the Rising Threat of Fungal Infections

Despite their potential benefits, fungi’s adaptability makes them a growing health concern. Combatting fungal infections requires urgent action:

Development of New Antifungal Drugs: There are currently only four major classes of antifungal drugs, and resistance is rising. Investment in new treatments is critical.

Regulation of Fungicide Use in Agriculture: Overuse of antifungals in farming accelerates drug resistance, reducing their effectiveness in medical treatments.

Enhanced Surveillance and Diagnostics: Improved monitoring is necessary to track the spread of fungal pathogens and detect infections early.

Increased Research and Funding: Greater investment in fungal biology and climate-related fungal adaptation is essential to understanding and mitigating health risks.

A Call for Action

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, institutions such as Wellcome are investing significantly in fungal research. With over £50 million allocated to projects studying fungal genomes and adaptation to global heating, the aim is to improve understanding and develop solutions.

Fungi remain one of the least explored biological frontiers. By advancing scientific research, improving diagnostic tools, and investing in sustainable solutions, we can harness the power of fungi for good while mitigating the risks they pose to global health.

Reference

https://wellcome.org