New Advances in Fungal Infections Research

Dear Colleagues,

Fungal infections are a neglected threat. Although most of the affected are immunocompromised individuals, some fungal species also infect those who are immunocompetent. Many pathogenic fungal species are part of the natural environment. Inhalation of fungal spores and contact with skin are significant routes of infections, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. The severity of fungal infection can range from allergic rashes to meningitis, affecting more than a billion people worldwide. Candidiasis, cryptococcosis, mucormycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and aspergillosis are common fungal diseases. The World Health Organization has declared that antimicrobial resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Multidrug-resistant Candida auris is a serious concern, causing outbreaks in healthcare systems. Drug resistance in Cryptococcosis neoformans, C. gattii, and Asperigillus fumigatus has also been reported. Hence, identifying new antifungal targets is the need of the hour. Virulent and resistant factors such as melanin, urease, and biofilm are being investigated in some laboratories. More research is needed to understand the mechanism of drug resistance and virulence factors. New drug targets are to be identified and validated before pathogens develop resistance to most of the currently available antifungals. A fungal vaccine effective against multiple species would have a good market value. 

This Special Issue will consolidate the recent developments in fungal disease research. Original research articles, reviews, and minireviews on antifungal drug discovery, virulence, resistance factors, new diagnostic techniques and treatments, the molecular mechanism of drug resistance, and related topics are invited.  

Dr. Anil Mathew Tharappel
Dr. Thomas Orasch
Guest Editors

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• fungal disease
• anti-fungal drug targets
• fungal biofilm
• drug resistance
• biofilm
• virulence
• vaccine