What Makes Fungi Unique? On Antifungals & Resistance

<p>Picture a field of wheat blowing in the wind. It looks serene, and the wheat looks healthy - especially because the wheat farmer has sprayed a triazole fungicide to stop mold from damaging the crop. </p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.vegetables.cornell.edu/pest-management/disease-factsheets/when-is-the-best-time-to-apply-fungicides-for-foliar-diseases/">Spraying antifungals</a> is pretty much standard. It happens every season, all over the world. </p><p><br></p><p>But at the same time, we want to avoid a future where overuse of antifungal agents in one area of life, like farming, could mean that the drug no longer works when we need it to in another area of life - like human health. </p><p><br></p><p>Today, we’re diving into the weird and wonderful world of fungi, what makes them unique, what we need to consider when using antifungals for different purposes, and the impact that this could have on our lives in the future. Join us to learn more! </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key References:</strong></p><ul><li>​<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/hcp/clinical-care/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/hcp/clinical-care/index.html</a></li><li>​ <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44259-024-00055-2#Sec3">https://www.nature.com/articles/s44259-024-00055-2</a></li><li>​ <a href="https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsbm.1610">https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsbm.1610</a></li><li>​ <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/one-health-eu-agencies-unite-tackle-azole-fungicide-resistance-aspergillus-fungi">https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/one-health-eu-agencies-unite-tackle-azole-fungicide-resistance-aspergillus-fungi</a></li><li>​ <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9259907/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9259907/</a></li><li>​ <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)01371-6">https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)01371-6</a></li></ul><p><br></p>