The emergence of invasive fungal diseases among humans

Submitted by GAtherton on 14 August 2015

Written by Arturo Casadevall, MD, PhD for Infectious Disease News, this short article outlines a little of the history of human fungal infection and concludes with the following warning to us all:

If the history of the 20th century is any guide, humanity is likely to face new fungal diseases in the 21st century. To prepare for this continuing threat, we need greater understanding of both the pathogenic potential inherent in the fungal kingdom and of the effective mammalian defense mechanisms. It is notable that there is not a single vaccine approved for the prevention of fungal diseases although there is considerable research in this field.

Despite tremendous progress in recent decades, the field of medical mycology remains small and underdeveloped relative to the current and potential threats from the fungal kingdom. Increased preparedness also would require increased surveillance for fungal threats to all environments, for fungi are nonspecific pathogens that easily cross species barriers. The experience of the bats and frogs shows that some fungal diseases can carry extinction potential for affected species and provide an ominous warning on threats from the fungal kingdom.