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mSphere of Influence: Population-level thinking to unravel microbial pathogenicity

Summary

This article discusses how scientists have traditionally divided fungi into clear categories of disease-causing pathogens versus harmless non-pathogens, often based on studying just one strain. Recent research shows that non-pathogenic fungi can actually have many disease-causing traits similar to pathogenic species, suggesting the boundary between dangerous and safe fungi is not as clear-cut as previously thought. By studying many different strains across species, researchers can better understand how fungal diseases develop and potentially evolve.

Background

Fungal pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus pose a serious threat to human health and have evolved from non-pathogenic ancestors. Most research characterizes microbes as binary categories of pathogens or non-pathogens based on single reference strains, overlooking intraspecific diversity.

Objective

This commentary reflects on a study examining strain heterogeneity in the non-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fischeri and its comparison with the pathogenic A. fumigatus. The work aims to challenge the binary classification framework and advocate for a population-based approach to understanding microbial pathogenicity.

Results

A. fischeri strains exhibited substantial phenotypic overlap with A. fumigatus, including macrophage survival and inflammatory responses. Virulence varied widely across A. fischeri strains and comparable to some A. fumigatus reference strains, despite conservation of most virulence-associated genes.

Conclusion

The study reveals that pathogenicity exists on a continuum rather than as discrete categories between pathogenic and non-pathogenic species. A population-level framework characterizing multiple strains is essential for understanding microbial virulence evolution and the full spectrum of pathogenic potential.
  • Published in:mSphere,
  • Study Type:Commentary/Perspective,
  • Source: PMID: 40793785, DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00588-24
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