Fungal Pathogenesis: Mechanisms, Resistance, and Threats

Fungi are a major global health concern, responsible for over a billion infections annually and an estimated 1.5 million deaths each year. Despite their substantial impact on human health and healthcare systems, fungal pathogens have long been underrepresented in research and public health initiatives. In response to this critical gap, the WHO recently published a fungal priority pathogens list, emphasising the urgent need to address both local and global threats posed by fungal infections.

Advancing our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenesis is pivotal for the development of innovative therapeutics and treatment strategies, offering the potential to reduce mortality and mitigate the burden on healthcare systems worldwide. To capture the current state of play and provide a platform for progress in this field, this collection welcomes submissions across (but not limited to) the following themes:

Fungal Pathogenesis and Virulence

• Mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity (virulence factors)
• Mechanisms of antifungal resistance e.g. efflux, enzymes, tolerance
• Emergence of new strains and their biology

Host Immune Responses to Fungal Infections

• Innate (e.g., macrophages, dendritic cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, neutrophils), adaptive (e.g., T-cell, B-cell, antibody), mucosal, skin, organ specific and systemic responses
• Fungal strategies to evade the human host
• Fungal infection in immunocompromised or co-morbid patients

Antifungal Resistance and clinical challenges

• Mechanisms of antifungal resistance
• Challenges and advances in diagnostics

Fungal Interactions

• Influence of microbiome and dysbiosis on fungal colonisation and infection
• Interactions of fungi with other fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa or helminths influencing infection

Emerging threats and innovations

• Impact of climate change, zoonoses and globalisation on fungal transmission
• Advances in vaccines, immunomodulatory therapies and disruption strategies

This collection welcomes Research Articles, Reviews, short communication and Technical Resource article types. Please indicate upon submission that you would like your paper to be considered for the collection.

Editors: Lysangela Alves, Seána Duggan, Campbell Gourlay

Status: Open for submissions

Journals submission links:

Journal of Medical Microbiology

Image credit: iStock/Jannicke Wiik-Nielsen