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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Aspergillus, the fungus that can eat you from the inside out, is spreading—here's why
A new study by researchers at the University of Manchester highlights how climate change is driving the expansion of harmful fungi across the globe, raising concerns for both public health and food security. Fungi are a vast kingdom of organisms, from mold to mushrooms, found in environments like soil, compost, and water. They play important roles in ecosystems but can also impact human health: fungal infections are estimated to kill 2.5 million people annually, though the actual number may be even higher due to data gaps. Despite their impact, fungi remain under-researched, and scientists are only beginning to understand how these highly adaptable organisms will respond to a warming climate. A team from Manchester University used computer simulations and climate forecasts to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus, a common fungal group found worldwide that can cause aspergillosis, a disease that mainly affects the lungs. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, predicts that certain Aspergillus species will expand their range as temperatures rise, moving into parts of North America, Europe, China, and Russia. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Growing awareness of fungal infections 'Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future,' said Norman van Rijn, one of the study's authors and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester. Public interest in fungal infections has grown recently thanks to the HBO television drama 'The Last of Us,' which imagines a world overrun by a mutant fungus. 'It's fiction,' van Rijn said, 'but he hopes it will raise the profile of fungal infections that are killing millions in reality.' The study found that two species—Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus—are expected to find new habitats in parts of the US, Canada, Europe, and northern Asia by 2100. Conversely, some regions in South America, Africa, and Australia could become too hot to support these fungi, highlighting the complex effects of climate change. Risks to people with weakened immune systems Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soil and release large numbers of tiny spores into the air. While most people inhale these spores without issue, those with lung conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD, as well as individuals with weakened immune systems due to cancer, organ transplants, or severe flu or COVID-19, are more vulnerable. If the immune system cannot clear the spores, the fungus can grow inside the body. 'The fungus starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out, saying it really bluntly,' van Rijn said. Aspergillosis has high mortality rates—around 20% to 40%—and is difficult to diagnose. Patients often show symptoms like fever and cough, which can be mistaken for other illnesses. Fungal pathogens are also becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, van Rijn added, noting that there are only four classes of antifungal medicines available. How is climate change responsible? This poses challenges as Aspergillus spreads into new regions. The study found that Aspergillus flavus, which thrives in hotter climates, could expand its reach by 16% if fossil fuel consumption continues at high levels. This species is also resistant to many antifungal medications and can infect crops, creating potential threats to food security. The World Health Organization added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and antifungal resistance risk. Meanwhile, Aspergillus fumigatus, which prefers more temperate climates, is predicted to spread northwards as global temperatures rise, potentially increasing by 77.5% by 2100 and exposing 9 million people in Europe. In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, temperatures may become too hot for Aspergillus to thrive, which could affect ecosystem health because fungi contribute to soil stability. A warming world could help fungi adapt As the planet warms, fungi may also adapt by developing greater temperature tolerance, making them more capable of surviving inside human bodies. Extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves, can also help fungi spread their spores over long distances. Despite the serious nature of aspergillosis, data on where Aspergillus is in the environment and how many people are infected remain limited. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
The Last Of Us superbug to become a reality soon? Study forecasts rapid spread of killer fungus
As the effects of climate change continue and global temperatures rise, a 'killer' fungus is expected to expand. As per a study conducted at Manchester University, researchers have warned of a rapid spread of Aspergillus. The Manchester University study, which is currently under peer-review, has forecast how climate change and hotter climate could accelerate the spread of the aspergillus species of fungi. This rapid spread of a potentially killer fungi can also be seen in the tv show - The Last Of Us Aspergillus, which is classified as a common group of fungi, can cause life-threatening diseases in humans, and severe infections in livestock and plants. As per the Manchester University study, climate change and a rise in global temperature will alter the environment and trigger the spread of many fungal pathogens. The researchers add that as the climate crisis intensifies, certain Aspergillus species will expand and push into new parts of North America, Europe, and North Asian countries such as China and Russia. 'Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future,' Norman van Rijn, one of the authors of the study and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester, told Australian website Aspergillus, like all fungi, release huge numbers of tiny sports everyday which are spread through air. Humans inhale these spores but due to the immune system, these spores don't cause any health issues. However, people with lung conditions such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and those with compromised immune systems due to COVID-19 or cancer may suffer severe health issues. Furthermore, Aspergillus is responsible for causing aspergillosis, which has a mortality rate of 20 to 40 percent. As per van Rijn, if the immune system fails to clear out these spores, the fungus can grow within the body and "eat you from the inside out." The study focused on three pathogenic species of the fungus under different climate conditions - A. fumigates, A. flavus, and A. niger Aspergillus flavus, which was added to WHO's "critical group of fungal pathogens" in 2022 due to its impact on public health and antifungal resistance, tends to prefer hotter, tropical climates. If fossil fuel burning continues, the study added that this pathogen could spread by 16 percent. A. fumigatus, which is found in more temperate climates, is predicted to spread towards the north and hit Europe. Furthermore, A. niger, which is found in hotter regions such as as sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, southern Asia, is also expected to move northwards as the regions are expected to become very hot, making the climate unsuitable for fungi group. This, however, could severely impact the ecosystem. In HBO's The Last of Us, the story focused on a post-apocalyptic world after a brain-eating fungus had wiped out most of society. Due to the show, the world is already familiar with the dangers of an infectious mutant fungus. However, speaking to Sky News, while the show is set in a fictional world, Dr Van Rhijn states that the "reality is already scary enough." Fungal infections have been linked to cause 2.5 million deaths globally each year. Furthermore, if the immune system fails to fight the spores, Aspergillus can cause invasive aspergillosis, which already kills an annual of 1.8 million people globally.
7NEWS
25-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
A fungus that can ‘eat you from the inside out' could spread as the world heats up
Infection-causing fungi responsible for millions of deaths a year will spread significantly to new regions as the planet heats up, new research predicts — and the world is not prepared. Fungi are absolutely everywhere. A vast kingdom of organisms, from mold to mushrooms, they grow in environments such as soil, compost and water. They play an important role in ecosystems but can have a devastating impact on human health: Fungal infections kill an estimated 2.5 million people a year, and a lack of data means that number could be far higher. Yet we are still very far from understanding them, especially how these incredibly adaptable organisms will respond to a warming climate. A team of scientists from Manchester University used computer simulations and forecasts to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus, a common group of fungi found all over the world that can cause aspergillosis, a life-threatening disease primarily affecting the lungs. They found certain Aspergillus species will expand their range as the climate crisis intensifies, pushing into new parts of North America, Europe, China and Russia. The study, published this month, is currently being peer reviewed. 'Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future,' said Norman van Rijn, one of the study's authors and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester. The field has seen new attention thanks to the popular HBO television drama The Last of Us, which follows people trying to survive in a world where an infectious mutant fungus has turned most of the population into violent monsters. (HBO and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.) It's fiction, van Rijn said, but he hopes it will raise the profile of fungal infections that are killing millions in reality. Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils all over the world. Like almost all fungi, they release huge numbers of tiny spores that spread through the air. Humans inhale spores every day but most people won't experience any health issues; their immune system clears them. It's a different story for those with lung conditions including asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD, as well as people with compromised immune systems, such as cancer and organ transplant patients, and those who have had severe flu or COVID-19. If the body's immune system fails to clear the spores, the fungus 'starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out, saying it really bluntly,' van Rijn said. Aspergillosis has very high mortality rates at around 20 per cent to 40 per cent, he said. It's also very difficult to diagnose, as doctors don't always have it on their radar and patients often present with fevers and coughs, symptoms common to many illnesses. Fungal pathogens are also becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, van Rijn added. There are only four classes of antifungal medicines available. This all spells bad news as the climate shifts open up new areas for Aspergillus to colonise. Aspergillus flavus, a species that tends to prefer hotter, tropical climates, could increase its spread by 16 per cent if humans continue burning large amounts of fossil fuels, the study found. It's predicted to push into parts of northern America, northern China and Russia. This species can cause severe infections in humans and is resistant to many antifungal medications. It also infects a range of food crops, posing a potential threat to food security. The World Health Organization added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and antifungal resistance risk. Aspergillus fumigatus, which prefers more temperate climates, is predicted to spread northwards toward the North Pole as global temperatures rise. Its spread could increase by 77.5 per cent by 2100, the study found, potentially exposing 9 million people in Europe. Conversely, temperatures in some regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, could become so hot they are no longer hospitable to Aspergillus fungi. This could bring its own problems, as fungi play an important role in ecosystems, including healthy soils. As well as expanding their growing range, a warming world could also be increasing fungi's temperature tolerance, allowing them to better survive inside human bodies. Extreme weather events such as drought, floods and heatwaves can affect fungi, too, helping to spread spores over long distances. There have been spikes in fungal disease following natural disasters, such as the outbreak after the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The new Aspergillus study 'rightfully shines a light on the threat of fungi that dwell in our natural environment and how under-prepared we are to cope with shifts in their prevalence,' said Elaine Bignell, co-director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, who was not involved in the research. Many uncertainties remain, however, and there is still a huge amount of research to be done, she told CNN. Despite the deadly nature of aspergillosis, there is a real lack of data on where the pathogen is in the environment and who gets infected, said Justin Remais, a professor of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, who was not involved in the research. He is leading a study of more than 100 million patients across the United States, which identified more than 20,000 aspergillosis cases between 2013 and 2023. The number of cases is increasing about 5 per cent each year, he said. 'Fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly common and resistant to treatment, and we are only beginning to understand how climate change is contributing,' he told CNN. People are used to hearing about diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, but much less so fungal diseases, said Bignell. 'There is a desperate need to reverse this trend given the lethality,' she said. 'Any of us in the future might be affected.'
