Fungus that can "eat you from the inside out" is spreading globally
Earth.com • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at The University of Manchester modeled the spread of three Aspergillus species under climate change scenarios, finding that warming temperatures and increased humidity could expand their habitats significantly across Europe, potentially exposing millions more people to infection.
- Aspergillus fungi adapt rapidly due to their flexible genomes and widespread presence in soil, crops, and animals; the use of azole fungicides in agriculture and medicine is driving drug resistance, complicating treatment and increasing mortality rates above 50% for resistant infections.
- Climate change alters fungal habitats globally, with some regions becoming more hospitable to harmful molds while others, like parts of Africa, may become too hot for certain species, highlighting complex regional impacts on fungal ecology and disease risk.
- Rising fungal spore loads and
