Fungi evolve to injure man

Many years ago, I read a fascinating study done by a researcher who studied snails. As his research pointed out, certain snails uncharacteristically, (and very slowly) climb due north as they make their way up certain tree trunks and branches. Somewhere during their uphill climb, they climb over fungi on the bark of the tree and this fungus would turn their snouts from grey to bright red. Why? Birds flying overhead would easily spot their bright red snouts, swoop down and eat the snails. It turns out that because fungi do not have legs or wings, they use snails to access transportation! Really!

New research (1) now confirms that we simply may never outsmart the ability of fungi to thrive on this earth or inside our bodies.  You see, without the electrolyte phosphate, once fungi gain access to the human body, they would die. However, human phosphate isn’t there for fungi, it’s there for us!  But instead of dying from the scarcity of phosphate available to them, a type of soil base yeast (yeasts are single celled fungi) called “cryptococcus neoformans” now activates one of our genes to activate an enzyme that makes fat! These fats (betaine lipids) just happen to also make phosphate. Once inside our bodies through inhalation of disturbed soil, it now enjoys a never-ending supply of phosphate. It is free to fuel itself as it climbs due north into our brains. Death ensues, most often in people whose immune systems are compromised, after the fungal disease, Cryptococcosis enters the brain.

The truth is, avoiding fungi is impossible as they are ubiquitous. But keeping your immune system vigilant is essential; eat well, exercise regularly and know which supplements favor a strong immune system!

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Coronavirus & Fungi Coinfections – Part 1

References:

1. Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190506093607.htm