Anti-Therapeutic Action: Development of antifungal resistance

Exposure to Tebuconazole Drives Cross-Resistance to Clinical Triazoles in Aspergillus fumigatus

When farmers use antifungal pesticides called triazoles to protect crops, the fungi can develop resistance to these chemicals. This study found that when the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is exposed to the agricultural triazole tebuconazole, it can become resistant not only to that pesticide but also to clinical triazole drugs used to treat human fungal infections. The resistant fungi maintain this resistance even when the pesticide is removed, suggesting that environmental pesticide use may threaten the effectiveness of medical antifungal treatments.

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Acidic pH Reduces Fluconazole Susceptibility in Cryptococcus neoformans by Altering Iron Uptake and Enhancing Ergosterol Biosynthesis

This research shows that acidic environments, like those found in inflamed tissues and inside immune cells, make the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans more resistant to the antifungal drug fluconazole. The fungus adapts to acidic conditions by using an alternative iron uptake system that increases the production of protective compounds (ergosterol) in its cell membrane. Understanding this pH-dependent resistance mechanism could help develop better treatment strategies for cryptococcal infections in patients with compromised immune systems.

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