Rise in temperatures is causing dangerous fungi to spread across U.S.
Although not the levels of doomsday scenario as depicted in the ongoing zombie apocalypse series ‘The Last of Us’, we’re still at risk in more ways than we may think of as a result of fungi spread as a result of warmer temperatures.
The rise in dangerous fungal infections may be linked to rising temperatures, according to a growing body of research. A new study shows that higher temperatures trigger an increase in genetic changes in Cryptococcus deneoformans, a pathogenic fungus.
These changes can result in greater heat resistance and heightened disease-causing potential. Historically, the human body’s average temperature of 98.6°F has been too hot for most fungi to thrive.
However, as global temperatures continue to rise, some fungi may be adapting to the increased heat stress, including the conditions within the human body.
Why haven’t fungi caused alarms yet?
The world is abundant with tiny organisms that see us as a tasty meal. While bacteria and viruses are well-known villains, causing pandemics and infections, fungi are a less familiar threat.
Pathogenic fungi, such as Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and others, are particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems.
However, healthy individuals have not had to worry about them much, as these pathogens do not thrive in the warm environment of the human body.
However, the recent study from Duke University suggests that this may be changing. Increased temperatures cause the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus deneoformans to enhance its adaptive responses, resulting in a rise in genetic changes.
These changes could potentially lead to increased heat resistance and increased disease-causing potential. Higher temperatures activate more of the fungus’ transposable elements, or jumping genes, causing changes in the way its genes are regulated and expressed.
This increases the risk of fungal infections for people, especially in the wake of global temperature rise.
‘The greatest threat to public health’
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of 19 life-threatening fungi, referred to as “fungal priority pathogens,” in October, which it deemed to represent the greatest threat to public health due to their increasing prevalence and resistance to treatment.
“Emerging from the shadows of the bacterial antimicrobial resistance pandemic, fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General of Antimicrobial Resistance.
The organization highlighted that these dangerous fungal infections pose the greatest risk to individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, or those suffering from post-primary tuberculosis infections.
The report also highlighted that fungal infections receive limited attention and resources, leading to a shortage of reliable data on the number of individuals affected by these infections and the development of resistance to available treatments.
Rise in fungal infection related deaths
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7,199 people in the US died from fungal infections in 2021, compared to just 450 reported deaths in 1969.
Every year, over 75,000 individuals are hospitalized in the US due to fungal infections. The number of deaths from these infections has also increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The situation is further exacerbated by the Earth’s warming climate, which has seen a rise in temperature since the mid-1800s, at a pace unseen in the last 10,000 years.
NASA reports that the planet’s surface temperature has increased by approximately 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) since the late 19th century, with 2016 and 2020 being the warmest years on record.
How worried should we be?
One thing is for sure: we’re nowhere near a zombie apocalypse, and scientists believe that we may never see it. But, there are many fungal infections that are causing alarm for human health and may continue to intensify should the heat levels rise.
While many of us can cope well with such infections, many others can become severely ill depending on how strong our overall health and immune systems are. But we hope that better treatments also emerge as these fungal infection-related health challenges arise.