Fungi (Fungal Infections)
A truly good book is something as wildly natural and primitive, mysterious and marvelous, ambrosial and fertile, as a fungus or a lichen - Henry David Thoreau
image by: Victor Keegan
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Antifungal Resistance and New Strategies to Control Fungal Infections
The fungal kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecological niches, life-cycle strategies, and morphologies. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi. Of the 1.5 million species estimated to belong to this kingdom, only about 5% were formally classified.
Many fungi are parasites for plants, animals, human, and other fungi. Plant pathogenic fungi are able to cause extensive damage and losses to agriculture and forestry including the rice blast fungus, Dutch elm disease, and chestnut blight. Some other fungi can cause serious diseases in humans, several of which may be fatal if left untreated. These include aspergillosis, candidosis,…
Resources
The Fungi Amongi Are the Great Decomposers
Unless you are a mushroom lover, a gardener or someone especially prone to skin infections, fungi probably don't hold much interest for you. The reason probably has something to do with the fungi temperament: They're shy, they generally keep themselves hidden and, when they do show up, it's often unwelcome. You end up with a discolored and misshapen toenail, the shrub in your yard has brown spots all over its leaves, there's a layer of slime on your ancient leftovers, and the frogs of the world start dying.
There’s a New Source for Meat Substitutes: Fungi
Startups say fungus-based protein has many benefits over alternatives. Fungus-based protein, these companies say, can be produced from well-known food sources with less processing than plant-based products, which require heating and pressing to give them the look and texture of meat. And because fungi can be grown in large fermenters in labs, they say fungus-based protein may offer the same potential efficiency as lab-grown meat in terms of land, energy and water use.
Why New Antifungals Are Desperately Needed
Serious systemic fungal infections are rare, but with antimicrobial resistance on the rise and only a limited number of approved drugs available, it is imperative that new treatment options are developed soon. Fortunately, things may be about to change, as several promising new drugs are close to market approval.
Why the CDC warns antibiotic-resistant fungal infections are an urgent health threat
We have heard a lot in recent years about the public health crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but less attention has been paid to antibiotic-resistant fungi.
Five facts that show we know too little about fungi, and their harmful effects on human health
Fungi are ubiquitous in nature. No one really knows how many species of fungi there are – one estimate is between 2.2m and 3.8m – and of those species only 120,000 have been documented. Fungi and moulds encompass a dizzying range of physical forms and attributes, living in both temperate environments and in extremes of hot, cold, or in the depths of the ocean. Most play a vital but unseen role breaking down plant matter and redistributing nutrients through the soil. Some are good to eat – yeasts, for example, are integral to creating bread, beer and other foodstuffs that have shaped societies and cultures over many centuries. But many others are toxic, for example the poisonous death cap.
Fungal Infections Are No Fun; Take the Quiz
Fungal infection symptoms can be similar to many conditions or illnesses. This makes it often hard to get an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Take this true-false quiz to see how much you know. The more you know, the healthier you’ll be.
We should take fungal infections more seriously. Here’s why
When most healthy people think of fungal diseases, they often think of oral or vaginal thrush, nappy rash, fungal nail infections, and athlete’s foot. Although these are very common, annoying and sometimes debilitating conditions, they can be treated. But some fungal diseases can be extremely serious and, particularly for those with compromised immune systems, even life threatening.
Why does the CDC want us to ‘Think Fungus’?
Fungal infections can be devastating, and they continue to emerge more rapidly than ever. This is in part due to increased number of people with weakened immune systems, environmental changes, and drug resistance issues. Fungal infections are hard to diagnose, which makes them challenging to treat. It is important that we all “Think Fungus” especially when there’s an infection that antibiotics fail to clear. More people should be aware that fungi are a common – and growing – source of infection.
Fungal Infections of the CNS: Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches
While fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are relatively rare, they have become more common with the increasing number of individuals who are immunocompromised due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immunosuppressive therapies, and organ transplants.
Fear the Fungus
Fungi thrive in environmental chaos, and they are coming for us.
Fungal Infections: Their Diagnosis and Treatment in Transplant Recipients
Systemic fungal infections typically occur in individuals who are seriously ill with recognized risk factors such as those frequently found in transplant recipients. Unfortunately, they are often diagnosed late, when the efficacy of the available treatments is low, often less than 50%, and the cost in terms of lives lost, hospital length of stay, and total hospital costs is substantially increased.
Fungus Inside Us: A New Health Frontier?
THE BIG, WEIRD world of creatures inside you may be even bigger and weirder than anybody thought. Fungi are the latest addition to human menagerie, joining bacteria and viruses in forming the teeming, biological kingdom-spanning superorganisms of our bodies.
Global Plague : How 150 people die every hour from fungal infection while the world turns a blind eye
Professor Denning explains: “This is a global plague on an unappreciated scale. Whilst the World Health Organisation has just developed clinical guidelines for doctors for fungal meningitis in AIDS, other critical fungal infections are ignored. The lack of basic fungal diagnostic capability and unavailable treatments in many countries results in millions of avoidable deaths and illness. GAFFI is here to change this dismal situation.”
The Worst Diseases You Can Catch Underground
Once called cave disease histoplasmosis poses the biggest risk to spelunkers.
Yeast: Love and Fear, Death and Beer
Single-celled fungi all around us do so much good and so much bad.
Zoloft could treat deadly fungal infections
Zoloft, one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants in the world, is also capable of inhibiting deadly fungal infections, according to new research.
Antifungal Resistance and New Strategies to Control Fungal Infections
The fungal kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecological niches, life-cycle strategies, and morphologies. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi. Of the 1.5 million species estimated to belong to this kingdom, only about 5% were formally classified.
World of Fungi
This is an interactive website of general fungal biology that covers the whole range of mycology
Fungal Infection Trust
The Fungal Infection Trust is one of the world's foremost charities (foundations) that focusses exclusively on fungal disease research, education, awareness and patient support across the world.
Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections
Gaffi is the only global NGO focussed exclusively on fungal diseases. Our vision is to reduce illness and death associated with fungal diseases worldwide. Our mission is to reach the poor and vulnerable through access to tests and anti fungal drugs.
LIFE
LIFE is a growing organisation. Leading International Fungal Infection (LIFE) has grown from the 20 year old charity the Fungal Infection Trust and is dedicated to improving health in those with fungal disease (infection and allergy). The overall goal is to greatly improve fungal infection outcomes in patients through awareness, improved diagnosis and access to appropriate antifungal therapies, worldwide.
Doctor Fungus
The information provided in this web site is primarily intended for physicians. However, the introductory material has been written with minimal medical terminology so that it can be used by those patients who wish to further their understanding of their illness. Please do keep in mind, however, that medical situations are often complex and this web site is not a substitute for good clinical judgement and consultation with an experienced physician.
European Confederation of Medical Mycology
The European Confederation of Medical Mycology was instituted at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on November 25th, 1993. The purpose of the Confederation is the rendering of support to science and research, the international coordination of scientific and clinical activities, the organisation of mycological conventions and of training programmes.
FungalGuide.ca
This site is designed to help you make intelligent choices about treating one of the most persistent, and widespread skin conditions; fungal infections.
International Society for Human and Animal Mycology
ISHAM is a world wide organization that represents all clinical scientists and fundamental researchers with interest in fungal diseases and fungus-like infections.
Mycology Online
Mycology Online is a joint project of the Mycology Unit at the Adelaide Women's & Children's Hospital and School of Molecular & Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide.
ESCMID Fungal Infection Study Group
Candida auris is a new species of Candida that is currently causing outbreaks in healthcare settings worldwide. The first outbreak in Europe was described in England in 2015,
MedlinePlus
If you have ever had athlete's foot or a yeast infection, you can blame a fungus. A fungus is actually a primitive vegetable. Mushrooms, mold and mildew are examples. Fungi live in air, in soil, on plants and in water. Some live in the human body. Only about half of all types of fungi are harmful.
New England Journal of Medicine
Browse Fungal Infections
ScienceDaily
Latest fungus news and articles.
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