Fungus, another threat>>> Deadly fungus that can "eat you from the inside out" is now in the U.S. and quickly spreading around the world
06-14-2025
Deadly fungus that can "eat you from the inside out" is now in the U.S. and quickly spreading around the world
By Eric Ralls
Earth.com staff writer
Imagine inhaling hundreds of invisible spores every day. Most float in and out without leaving a trace. Yet some belong molds that don’t respect boundaries.
Some fungus species will infect lungs, spoil crops, and disrupt ecosystems all at the same time. In short, they can wreak massive havoc and leave death in their wake.
Most molds and fungi are helpful, but some fungus and mold will jump from hospital wards to honeybee hives, and the line between helpful recycler and harmful invader grows blurrier each year.
Most of the time, healthy immune systems swat away dangerous spores and fight off infection. Trouble arises when weakened defenses, rising temperatures, and heavy fungicide use tip the scales.
Suddenly, the same fungus that quietly decomposes the fallen leaves in your yard can trigger relentless coughs, damage corn silos, and shrug off medicines that once kept it in check.
Aspergillus fungus easily adaptsAfter studying fungal threats for years, Dr. Norman van Rhijn and colleagues at The University of Manchester mapped how three notorious Aspergillus species – A. flavus, A. fumigatus, and A. niger – might spread through the end of the century
MaxENT model accurate described Aspergillus global distributions. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Manchester
Those maps point to striking numbers. Under the high-emissions pathway, the range of A. flavus in Europe could jump about 16 percent, potentially putting another one million people at risk of infection.
A. fumigatus – the chief culprit behind invasive aspergillosis – could expand its European footprint by 77.5 percent, threatening up to nine million more residents.
In Africa, paradoxically, parts of the continent may become too hot for some fungi to survive, hinting at complex regional trade-offs.
Forecasting Aspergillus fungus spreadForecasting pathogens decades ahead may sound speculative, but it builds on earlier warnings. Hospitals already grapple with Aspergillus fungus outbreaks after building renovations or severe dust storms.
Meanwhile, intensive-care units report stubborn cases in patients recovering from influenza or COVID-19.
Rising outdoor spore loads could translate to more hospital admissions and costlier treatments, especially because diagnostics for fungal infections lag far behind those for bacteria or viruses.
Mycotoxin contamination adds another layer. A single year of heavy Aspergillus growth can saddle the U.S. corn industry with losses topping $1 billion.
Increased heat and humidity extend the window for mold growth in silos and fields, forcing farmers to discard grain or blend batches to dilute toxins – strategies that still carry economic and health risks.
Current drugs don’t workAzole resistance has climbed steadily in Europe and Asia. Patients with resistant Aspergillus fungus infections face mortality rates exceeding 50 percent, partly because alternative drugs can damage the kidneys or liver.
Each hectare treated with agricultural azoles raises the odds that environmental spores will carry resistance genes into hospitals.
Public-health agencies now track these genes in soil and compost piles, hoping to spot trouble before it reaches intensive care.
Fungicide demand is also changing. As some African regions exceed the thermal limits for certain molds, farmers elsewhere may spray more to protect lengthening growing seasons.
That feedback loop – more fungicide, stronger resistance – complicates food security and patient care alike.
Farms, food, and rising billsAspergillus isn’t the lone shapeshifter. Fusarium, which devastates wheat and oat fields, and Cryptococcus, an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients, also respond to warming climates.
“Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse,” explains Viv Goosens of Wellcome.
“To address these challenges, we must fill important research gaps. By using models and maps to track the spread of fungi, we can better direct resources and prepare for the future.”
Aspergillus fungus and human healthFungi account for an estimated 1.5 to 3.8 million species, yet fewer than 10 percent carry official descriptions, and only a sliver have sequenced genomes.
The scarcity of basic data hinders vaccine development and slows the hunt for safer drug targets.
Recognizing this blind spot, the World Health Organization added Aspergillus fungus and Candida species to its priority list for emerging threats in 2022.
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