Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Antifungal resistance emerges as a global health threat
Content provided by British Council
[1] Antifungal resistance is not talked about as much as antimicrobial resistance. However, it is growing and making people more at risk of serious infections. These fungal infections, or mycoses, are quite different from the brain-controlling fungus that causes the zombie apocalypse in the popular series and video game The Last of Us. Nonetheless, experts have warned that these infections are becoming more dangerous.
[2] Mycoses resistance to antifungal drugs is on the rise, according to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The centre has linked the growing resistance to the overuse and misuse of antifungal treatments.
[3] Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacterial infections are no longer effectively treated by antibiotics. The excessive use of antibiotics has worsened this issue.
[4] 'Treatments against pathogenic fungi are used in agriculture as well as in human and animal health,' the CNRS said, pointing out the 'identical resistance mechanisms' shared by antifungals and antibiotics. 'As is the case with overprescribed antibiotics, to which bacteria have become resistant, the massive use of antifungals is leading to a gradual decline in their effectiveness,' the CNRS warned.
[5] It noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) did not draw up a list of 19 particularly dangerous fungi until 2022. 'The incidence and geographical range of fungal diseases are expanding worldwide,' the WHO stated.
[6] The CNRS warned of infections caused by a common mould found in soil called Aspergillus. The infection can cause a lung disease that is dangerous for people with weak immune systems. 'Antimicrobial resistance is emerging in Aspergillus fumigatus,' said the US government's Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
[7] Other common fungus-caused diseases include blastomycosis, which also affects the lungs, and Candida auris infection, caused by Candida auris. The CDC described it as 'a type of yeast that can cause severe illness and spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities'.
Source: dpa, May 8
Questions
1. In paragraph 1, what does the fungus in The Last of Us do?
2. Antifungal drugs are becoming … on mycoses, according to paragraph 2.
A. less resistant
B. more resistant
C. more effective
D. less effective
3. According to paragraph 3, what has been identified as a factor in the spread of antimicrobial resistance?
4. What does the list mentioned in paragraph 5 consist of?
5. Find a word in paragraph 5 that has a similar meaning to 'increasing'.
6. Complete the following summary using the grammatically correct form of the words 'affect' or 'effect'. (4 marks)
Here are the (i) ___________ of two diseases and how they (ii) ___________ people's health. Blastomycosis has a negative (iv) ___________ on a person's lungs. A common mould in soil called Aspergillus also (iii) ___________ the lungs, causing a dangerous lung disease, especially for people with weak immune systems.
The overuse of antifungals in agriculture and medicine is fuelling the threat of resistance, warned the CNRS and WHO. Photo: Shutterstock
Answers
1. They control human brains and turn people into zombies. (accept all similar answers)
2. D
3. overuse of antibiotics, both as medication and as ingredients in animal feed on farms
4. particularly dangerous fungi
5. expanding
6. (i) effects; (ii) affect; (iii) effect; (iv) affects
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
US reveals pick for Nato's next supreme allied commander
President Donald Trump 's administration announced on Thursday its nomination for the next top US general in Europe and said the US military officer would also assume the traditional role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (Saceur). Trump's decision to nominate US Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich to both roles, which was first reported by Reuters, will relieve European Nato allies and even some of Trump's fellow Republicans amid concerns about a retrenchment in American military leadership of Nato Grynkewich must be confirmed by the US Senate. The position of Saceur, which oversees all Nato operations in Europe, has been filled by a US general since its creation after World War II. US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower became the alliance's first Saceur in 1951. Still, since taking office in January, Trump's administration has pressured Nato allies to ramp up their defence spending, saying Europe should be primarily responsible for defence on the European continent. Speaking at Nato headquarters earlier on Thursday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was confident that members of the Nato alliance would agree to a major boost in defence spending. Photo: AP Trump has also said he wants Nato allies to boost investment in defence to 5 per cent of gross domestic product, up from the current target of 2 per cent.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Philippines urged to ratify UN marine resource treaty or risk being sidelined
France is stepping up its diplomacy in Asia to gather support for a key United Nations treaty on marine resource protection, warning that any delay in its ratification could leave the Philippines and other regional countries on the sidelines of a crucial global conference next week. Advertisement Only 29 countries have ratified the landmark High Seas Treaty – also known as the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty – which requires ratifications by at least 60 countries to take effect. One of 116 signatories, the Philippines signed the treaty in 2023 but has yet to ratify it. The treaty aims to regulate and protect marine resources in international waters, which are maritime areas beyond any single country's jurisdiction. They cover nearly half the Earth's surface and sustain vital ecosystems and fishing industries across Asia. Adopted in June 2023, the treaty aims to fill governance gaps in what advocates describe as a 'lawless wilderness', where fragmented oversight has enabled overfishing, pollution and extensive deep-sea mining. Analysts say the treaty is especially relevant for developing coastal and archipelagic states in Asia, where limited resources and vast exclusive economic zones make enforcement challenging. Concerns over unclear obligations, enforcement costs and industry pushback have hindered its ratification in many countries. Advertisement At a forum held in Manila on May 28, French Ambassador Marie Fontaniel urged the Philippines to be among the first 60 countries to ratify the treaty ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice next week.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
How SkinnyTok TikTok trend and others glorifying thinness can spark eating disorders
Social media can push vulnerable young people towards developing eating disorders by glorifying thinness and promoting fake, dangerous advice about diet and nutrition, experts warn. Advertisement Young women and girls are much more likely to suffer from illnesses such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder, though rates among men have been increasing. Research has shown the percentage of people worldwide who have had some kind of eating disorder during their lives rose from 3.5 per cent in 2000 to 7.8 per cent in 2018, a timeframe that captures the rise of social media. For the professionals trying to help teenagers recover from these disorders, misinformation from influencers on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram is a huge problem. 'We no longer treat an eating disorder without also addressing social media use,' French dietitian and nutritionist Carole Copti says. Advertisement 'It has become a trigger, definitely an accelerator and an obstacle to recovery.'
