'World near tipping point': Study warns about a deadly fungus that could kill millions
deadly fungus
across Europe, Asia, and the Americas due to rising global temperatures. The fungus, Aspergillus, thrives in warm and damp environments and could cause severe lung infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems or chronic respiratory illnesses.
Risk of infection linked to warming climate
Researchers say that Aspergillus could expand its reach as temperatures rise, making millions more vulnerable to its effects. The fungus is already known to grow in compost and other high-temperature settings. Its ability to survive at 37°C, the temperature inside the human body, allows it to infect the lungs of susceptible individuals.
While not everyone who inhales its spores falls ill, people with asthma, cystic fibrosis, or weakened immunity are more likely to be affected.
A global shift in species distribution
Norman van Rhijn, a co-author of the study, warned that the world was approaching a "tipping point" regarding fungal pathogens.
"We're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions. In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different," Van Rhijn told the Financial Times.
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The study noted that Aspergillus fumigatus could potentially spread to 77% more territory by 2100 if fossil fuel use continues at the current rate. This would put an estimated nine million people in Europe at risk of exposure.
Limited understanding of fungal pathogens
Scientists say the danger is made worse by the fact that fungi are one of the least understood groups of organisms. Only around 10% of the estimated 1.5 to 3.8 million fungal species have been properly identified, and very few have had their genomes sequenced.
"Its lifestyle in the natural environment may have provided Aspergillus fumigatus with the fitness advantage needed to colonise human lungs," said Professor Elaine Bignell, co-director at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at Exeter University.
Drug development lags behind
Despite the potential threat, investment in antifungal medicines has been slow. Scientists say this is due to high development costs and low expected returns, making it a less attractive area for pharmaceutical companies.
The study also mentioned the fungus's ability to survive in extreme conditions, including the radioactive environment inside Chernobyl's nuclear reactors, which underlines its resilience.
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