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Title: Researchers Warn Some Infectious Fungus Could Spread as Earth's
Temperatures Rise

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/05/24/2...

Around the world fungal infections kill an estimated 2.5 million people a
year, notes a report from CNN. But new research predicts that certain species
of infection-causing Aspergillus fungi could spread into new areas as the
earth's temperature rises. ("The study, published this month, is currently
being peer reviewed..." Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils
all over the world. Like almost all fungi, they release huge numbers of tiny
spores that spread through the air. Humans inhale spores every day but most
people won't experience any health issues; their immune system clears them.
It's a different story for those with lung conditions including asthma,
cystic fibrosis and COPD, as well as people with compromised immune systems,
such as cancer and organ transplant patients, and those who have had severe
flu or Covid-19. If the body's immune system fails to clear the spores, the
fungus "starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out,
saying it really bluntly," said Norman van Rijn, one of the study's authors
and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of
Manchester. Aspergillosis has very high mortality rates at around 20% to 40%,
he said. It's also very difficult to diagnose, as doctors don't always have
it on their radar and patients often present with fevers and coughs, symptoms
common to many illnesses. Fungal pathogens are also becoming increasingly
resistant to treatment, van Rijn added. There are only four classes of
antifungal medicines available... Aspergillus flavus, a species that tends to
prefer hotter, tropical climates, could increase its spread by 16% if humans
continue burning large amounts of fossil fuels, the study found... [Mainly in
parts of Europe and the northernmost edges of Scandinavia, Russia, China, and
Canada, and the western edge of Alaska.] This species can cause severe
infections in humans and is resistant to many antifungal medications. It also
infects a range of food crops, posing a potential threat to food security.
The World Health Organization added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group
of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and
antifungal resistance risk... Conversely, temperatures in some regions,
including sub-Saharan Africa, could become so hot they are no longer
hospitable to Aspergillus fungi. This could bring its own problems, as fungi
play an important role in ecosystems, including healthy soils. As well as
expanding their growing range, a warming world could also be increasing
fungi's temperature tolerance, allowing them to better survive inside human
bodies. Extreme weather events such as drought, floods and heatwaves can
affect fungi, too, helping to spread spores over long distances. Thanks to
Slashdot reader quonset for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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