Fungi Mutate Due to Rising Temperature; Mutagenesis May Enable Pandrug Resistance and Hypervirulence

Global warming has taken a toll on our health, and things might worsen as fungi mutate, making them extremely contagious and resistant to drugs.

Temperature-Dependent Mutagenesis

Researchers from the Nanjing Medical University led by Jingjing Huang discovered that rising temperatures had affected fungi. They reportedly changed and evolved into new fungal pathogens.

It is thought that novel fungal pathogens are significantly underestimated in their significance and threat. According to researchers, temperature-dependent mutagenesis can facilitate the emergence of hypervirulence and pan drug resistance in fungi and lend credence to the theory that global warming can encourage the evolution of novel fungal infections.

Approximately 3.75 million fatalities are attributed to fungal infections each year, even though the majority of these species prefer temperatures far lower than those found in human bodies. However, prior research indicates that fungus can entirely change their physiology to adapt to warmer settings.

For the study, scientists separated eight distinct species of Rhodosporidiobolus and subjected them to 37 °C (98.6 °F), the usual body temperature for humans. Both R. fluvialis and R. nylandii were able to withstand high temperatures. Due to the heat, R. fluvialis transitioned from a single-cell yeast form to a more active colonial pseudohyphal phase.

When both species were injected into mice, the results were similar.

In addition to growing in warmer climates in its pseudohyphal form, R. fluvialis was more resistant to immunological macrophage cells, killing them more than destroying them. Additionally, R. fluvialis and R. nylandii resist the widely prescribed antifungal drugs fluconazole, caspofungin, and amphotericin B.

Although R. fluvialis is susceptible to 5-fluorocytosine, Huang and her colleagues discovered that it could quickly produce resistant mutants. The rate of total resistance in R. fluvialis was speedy.

Huang and associates discovered one drug, polymyxin B, an FDA-approved bactericide, to which Rhodosporidiobolus did not appear to adapt as readily. Unfortunately, the drug is harmful to kidney cells and neurons.

ALSO READ: Virus vs. Bacteria vs. Fungi: How Do These Germs and Their Infections Differ From One Another?

Fungal Pathogenicity

Fungal infections were not considered a serious threat to humans in modern history. Although Aspergillus, Candida, and Cryptococcus are known harmful fungi, they only harm people with impaired immune systems.

Fungal infections have been rare, even though these microbes are known to cause ringworms, nail infections, and vaginal irritation. The situation hasn't altered in the past few years despite reports from medical professionals of uncommon fungal infections.

Previous research indicates that the fact that fungi prefer colder temperatures than those present on animal bodies may be one of the reasons they have not posed a greater problem. The American Society for Microbiology states that fungi cannot survive in our climate because it is too hot (37 degrees Celsius). Most fungal infections can also be eliminated by our innate immune cells.