The world’s most powerful anti-fungal drugs cause fungi to kill themselves

In a powerful study led by the University of Exeter, scientists have found that the world’s most widely used antifungals cause the bacteria to kill themselves.

This discovery hopes to improve ways to protect the food supply and human health.

When it comes to fungal plant diseases, azole fungicides are widely used. Now scientists have found a way in which azoles kill pathogenic fungi.

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In the study, led by Professor Gero Steinberg investigated what happens in the case of the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici.

Azoles directly target enzymes in pathogen cells that produce ergosterol. Ergosterol plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of the fungal cell membrane, which means that blocking its structure leads to cell collapse and death.

They used imaging of living cells and molecular genetics, the goal was to understand why blocking ergosterol synthesis results in fungal cell death.

The fungi were treated with azoles and observed the response of the cells. They found that azole reduces the level of ergosterol, which, however, increases other metabolic processes, leading to the accumulation of toxic products.

This triggers a process called apoptosis, or a program called “suicide”. It ultimately causes the cell to self-destruct, leading to macroautophagy.

Resistance and the future

Lead author Gero Steinberg said their findings rewrite the conventional understanding of how azoles kill fungal pathogens.

“We show that azoles trigger cellular “suicide” programs, which result in the killing of pathogens. This cellular response occurs after two days of treatment. It suggests that the cells reach a ‘point of no return’ after a certain period of exposure to azoles,” he said.

However, this gives the pathogen more time to develop resistance to azoles.

“Our work sheds light on the performance of our widely used chemicals to control crops and human pathogens around the world,” the researcher added. The research findings are intended to help in developing policies that can save lives and ensure food security in the future.

A similar pattern was found in the rice fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This fungus causes a disease that destroys 30 percent of the rice. They also tried antibiotics, and they all led to the same reaction.

In other words, they concluded that blocking ergosterol synthesis leads to the destruction of pathogen cells.

Maintaining food production and maintaining agricultural productivity

Fungal diseases are a major threat to global agriculture and human health. These diseases are responsible for the loss of up to 25% of crop production worldwide each year.

In addition to affecting plants, fungal diseases cause serious health risks to humans. They can be very dangerous for people with weak immunity.

One of the main defenses against fungal diseases in agriculture is the use of azole fungicides. Azole antibiotics are important for protecting crops from various fungal pathogens, thus helping to maintain food production and maintain agricultural productivity.

Reliance on azole fungicides presents problems. The widespread and repeated use of these chemicals can lead to the development of resistance in fungal populations.

Thus, there is a need for continued research and development of new antifungal strategies and other treatments to ensure effective control of fungal diseases. According to data, the global market of fungicides is worth more than 3 billion a year.

The lesson was published in Nature Communication.