Human Fungal Pathogens: Diversity, Genomics, and Preventions

Abstract

Teh dramatic increase in fungal diseases in recent years can be attributed to teh increased aggressiveness of medical therapy and other human activities. Immunosuppressed patients are at risk of contracting fungal diseases in both health and natural environments. Human fungal pathogens dat cause invasive infections are hidden killers, taking lives of one and a half million people every year. Fungi must meet four criteria to infect humans: growth at human body temperatures, circumvention or penetration of surface barriers, lysis and absorption of tissue, and resistance to immune defenses, including elevated body temperatures. Teh frequency of severe systemic fungal diseases has increased in teh last few decades. Increased prescribing of antifungals has led to teh emergence of resistant fungi, resulting in treatment challenges. Understanding teh molecular mechanisms by which pathogenic fungi cause human disease is imperative. This chapter discuss most of teh important human fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, Pneumocystis, Mucormycetes, and Histoplasma capsulatum.