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Humans vs. Fungi: An Overview of Fungal Pathogens against Humans

Summary

Fungal infections are serious health threats that kill approximately 1.5 million people annually worldwide. This comprehensive review identifies over 280 different fungal species that can infect humans, with Aspergillus being the most dangerous genus. The study provides updated information on how these infections are diagnosed through various methods including cultures, microscopy, and molecular testing, as well as treatment options ranging from traditional antifungal drugs to newer therapies like nanotechnology-based formulations.

Background

Human fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally, with fungi responsible for approximately 1.5 million annual deaths affecting one-third of the human population. These infections are increasingly recognized as a major threat to public health, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The rising prevalence of fungal infections is linked to climate change, pathogen virulence, and growing numbers of immunocompromised patients worldwide.

Objective

To provide a comprehensive overview of human fungal pathogens, their classification, disease manifestations, and current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The review aimed to extract information from over 850 recent case reports to compile an updated list of 281 human fungal pathogens and establish their phylogenetic relationships using molecular data.

Results

The analysis identified 281 human fungal pathogens from 12 classes across 4 divisions including Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, and Mucoromycota. Aspergillus emerged as the genus with highest human infection potential with 16 pathogenic species, while Curvularia, Exophiala, and Trichophyton each comprised 10 or more pathogenic species. Most pathogens belonged to the class Eurotiomycetes based on phylogenetic analysis.

Conclusion

The comprehensive catalog and phylogenetic analysis of human fungal pathogens provides an updated resource for accurate diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, and treatment optimization. Incorporating molecular DNA sequencing and phylogenetic techniques is essential for improving identification accuracy beyond traditional morphological methods. Understanding the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of fungal pathogens will facilitate development of targeted diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
  • Published in:Pathogens,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 38787278, DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050426
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