Hidden killers: human fungal infections

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Gordon D Brown1, David W Denning, Neil A R Gow

  • 1Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.

Science Translational Medicine
|December 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Fungal infections cause significant human illness and death, yet research and diagnostics lag. This review highlights the urgent need for better understanding and treatment of invasive fungal diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunocompromised Host Research

Background:

  • Fungal infections represent a major global health burden, contributing significantly to human morbidity and mortality.
  • The clinical impact of fungal diseases is often underestimated compared to other infectious agents.
  • Research into the pathophysiology of human fungal infections is critically underdeveloped.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the importance of fungi as significant human pathogens.
  • To discuss the challenges in diagnosing and treating invasive fungal infections.
  • To highlight the specific vulnerabilities of immunocompromised individuals to fungal diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on fungal pathogenesis and clinical impact.
  • Analysis of research gaps in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for fungal infections.
  • Synthesis of information on the unique challenges posed by invasive fungal diseases.

Main Results:

  • Fungi are underappreciated yet potent human pathogens.
  • Significant deficiencies exist in diagnostic tools, antifungal drugs, and vaccines.
  • Invasive fungal infections pose a severe threat, particularly to immunocompromised populations.

Conclusions:

  • There is an urgent need to increase research focus on fungal pathogens.
  • Development of novel diagnostics, antifungals, and vaccines is critical.
  • Improved strategies are required to combat invasive fungal infections in vulnerable patient groups.

More Related Videos

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis08:48

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

A Contemporary Warming/Restraining Device for Efficient Tail Vein Injections in a Murine Fungal Sepsis Model06:02

A Contemporary Warming/Restraining Device for Efficient Tail Vein Injections in a Murine Fungal Sepsis Model

Published on: November 6, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...