Lessons from the field: Trichoderma in agriculture and human health

The use of Trichoderma in agriculture as both a biocontrol agent and biofertilizer hinges on its ability to colonize the rhizosphere, promote plant growth, endure adverse environments, compete for space and nutrients, and produce enzymes and secondary metabolites to mycoparasitize and infect other fungus. In humans, Trichoderma exhibits the capacity to infect various bodily tissues, leading to Trichodermosis. There has been a notable increase in cases ranging from superficial to fatal, invasive, and disseminated infections, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. Trichoderma species employ diverse strategies to colonize and survive in various environments, infecting phytopathogens; however, the mechanisms and virulence factors contributing to human infections remain poorly understood. In this mini review, we provide a brief overview and contextualization of the virulence mechanisms employed by Trichoderma in parasitizing other fungi, as well as those implicated in modulating plant immunity and inducing human infections. Furthermore, we discuss the similarity of these virulence factors capable of modulating the mammalian immune system and their potential implications for human infection.