Crossover between the control of fungal pathogens in medicine and the wider environment, and the threat of antifungal resistance

Abstract

A primary human pathogen is an agent (fungus, bacterium, virus) causing any kind of disease in humans, either superficially or within the body (invasive, systemic). All fungal propagules (all kind of cells, spores) existing in the natural environment can be transmitted to the human body. Fungal infections usually start in the lung by inhalation of contaminated air, or on the skin, nails, and mucosa (vagina, mouth, sinuses) by direct contact (e.g., through wounds), and rarely also in the gastrointestinal tract by intake of contaminated food or water. Fungal infections in humans are rarely serious (lifethreatening) unless the patient's immune system is weakened, for

Epidemiologic and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Candiduria Among Patients Hospitalized in The Nephrology and Intensive Care Unit Wards, Tehran, Iran

“…This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies (15,16). The most significant challenge with regard to candidiasis is the increased rate of infections caused by non-albicans Candida species, which may be attributed to resistance to common antifungal drugs and the increasing use of immunosuppressive medications (5).…”

“…Also, resistance to amphotericin B has been observed in C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii, C. kefir, and C. rugosa. On the other hand, susceptibility to novel antifungals such as echinocandins, including Anidulafungin, has been reduced in C. guilliermondii and C. parapsilosis (5).…”

Fungi Occurrence in Ready-to-Eat Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) From Different Boreal Hemisphere Areas

“…Species of the Fusarium and Alternaria genus are readily found in the air transported as spores or cells on particles in aerosols from plants, animals, and soil, and their origin can be food (from fruits, leaves, and vegetables), water (in fresh or contaminated drainage water), and soil (soil particles on food or in the air), and their concentration varies by area, season, and climate ( Gisi, 2022 ). They have been reported as plant pathogens in several studies.…”

Addressing a future pandemic: how can non-biological complex drugs prepare us for antimicrobial resistance threats?

“…Finally, although less studied, AMR amongst fungal pathogens is increasingly recognized as a key emerging threat for human health. 31,32 Drawing parallels with bacterial AMR, fungal AMR is driven by factors such as nosocomial outbreak transmission, which aids the spread of fungal AMR, and the use of subtherapeutic concentrations or inadequate exposure of antifungal drugs, including large scale use of fungicides in agriculture. 32 However, key differences include the fact that fungi have higher fidelity species boundaries, meaning there is currently limited evidence for horizontal gene transfer, and homologous recombination dominates as the primary mechanism.…”