Fungicides used in agriculture have been linked to an increase in resistance to antifungal drugs in both humans and animals.
Fungal infections are on the rise, and two UC Davis infectious disease experts, Dr. George Thompson and Dr. Angel Desai, are sounding the alarm. In a recent commentary published in the New England Journal of Medicine, they warn that new agricultural pesticides designed to kill harmful fungi might be making it harder to treat dangerous fungal infections in people and animals.
Fungi already cause serious health and economic problems around the world. While antifungal agents are essential tools in both medicine and agriculture, overuse or poorly coordinated development of these compounds could lead to fungi evolving resistance. This means that life-saving treatments for humans might stop working.
Thompson and Desai are urging the global community to adopt a “One Health” approach to developing, testing and using agents to fight pathogens like fungi and bacteria.
“Antimicrobial resistant pathogens are a constant reminder for us to use agents judiciously,” Thompson said. “We have learned that the widespread use of antibiotics for livestock resulted in the rapid development of resistance to antibacterials. We have similar concerns regarding the use of antifungals in the environment.”
Thompson is the article’s lead author. He is a professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
A One Health approach proposes a more holistic view to health. It emphasizes how changes in one area — like human activity, animal health, or the environment — can have ripple effects across all three.
About antifungal resistance
Changes in the climate and the wind patterns can help spread pathogens like fungi. Also, human travelers, migrating animals, and the movement of contaminated items can carry pathogens to new areas.
In the last few decades, there has been a rapid increase in fungus types that cause severe infections in humans. One example of a difficult-to-treat fungus is Candida auris (C. auris).
“Fungi have similar cellular machinery to that of humans. This is why medications that kill fungi like C. auris often have side effects for people. With few antifungals to choose from during clinical care, preventing resistance is of paramount importance,” Thompson explained.
Coordinated pesticide development and use
Resistance to treatments is highly linked to the amount of each agent used, the authors wrote. They called for coordinated global regulation to slow the development of resistance to new antimicrobial agents.
“There is a need for a shared antimicrobial approval process that includes a thorough assessment of potential impacts on the environment and human and animal health. This is especially true before any new large-scale environmental and agricultural pesticide use,” Desai said. She is an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.
Their report also noted the foundation of The Interagency Drug and Pesticide Resistance and Efficacy Workgroup, a new entity under The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is tasked with providing input on upcoming compounds proposed for registration, including potential effects on medical practice. The authors said similar efforts are needed on a global scale.
They noted that shared decision-making among national and global regulatory agencies would be cost-effective. It might help avoid the more expensive and riskier prospects of the rapid spread of resistant pathogens.
Reference: “Addressing Antifungal Drug Resistance — A “One Health–One World” Challenge” by George R. ThompsonIII and Angel N. Desai, 11 June 2025, New England Journal of Medicine.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2416548
News
Is Berberine Really a “Natural Ozempic”?
Often labeled a “natural Ozempic,” berberine is widely discussed as a metabolic aid. Yet research suggests its influence may lie deeper. In recent years, berberine has gained significant attention as a supposed “natural way” [...]
Viagra Ingredient Shows Promise for Rare Childhood Brain Disease in Surprising Study
A rare childhood disease with no approved treatment may have an unexpected new therapeutic candidate. Sildenafil, the active ingredient also sold under the brand name Viagra, may help reduce symptoms in people with Leigh [...]
In a first for China, Neuracle’s implantable brain-computer interface wins approval
In a landmark development, Neuracle Medical Technology has secured the country’s first-ever approval for an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system designed to restore hand motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries, in a [...]
A Cambridge Lab Mistake Reveals a Powerful New Way to Modify Drug Molecules
A surprising lab discovery reveals a light-powered way to tweak complex drugs faster, cleaner, and later in development. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a new technique for altering complex drug molecules [...]
New book from NanoappsMedical Inc – Molecular Manufacturing: The Future of Nanomedicine
This book explores the revolutionary potential of atomically precise manufacturing technologies to transform global healthcare, as well as practically every other sector across society. This forward-thinking volume examines how envisaged Factory@Home systems might enable the cost-effective [...]
Scientists Discover Simple Saliva Test That Reveals Hidden Diabetes Risk
Researchers have identified a potential new way to assess metabolic health using saliva instead of blood. High insulin levels in the blood, known as hyperinsulinemia, can reveal metabolic problems long before obvious symptoms appear. It is [...]
One Nasal Spray Could Protect Against COVID, Flu, Pneumonia, and More
A single nasal spray vaccine may one day protect against viruses, pneumonia, and even allergies. For decades, scientists have dreamed of creating a universal vaccine capable of protecting against many different pathogens. The idea [...]
New AI Model Predicts Cancer Spread With Incredible Accuracy
Scientists have developed an AI system that analyzes complex gene-expression signatures to estimate the likelihood that a tumor will spread. Why do some tumors spread throughout the body while others remain confined to their [...]
Scientists Discover DNA “Flips” That Supercharge Evolution
In Lake Malawi, hundreds of species of cichlid fish have evolved with astonishing speed, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study how biodiversity arises. Researchers have identified segments of “flipped” DNA that may allow fish to adapt rapidly [...]
Our books now available worldwide!
Online Sellers other than Amazon, Routledge, and IOPP Indigo Global Health Care Equivalency in the Age of Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine and Artifcial Intelligence Global Health Care Equivalency In The Age Of Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine And Artificial [...]
Scientists Discover Why Some COVID Survivors Still Can’t Taste Food Years Later
A new study provides the first direct biological evidence explaining why some people continue to experience taste loss long after recovering from COVID-19. Researchers have uncovered specific biological changes in taste buds that could help [...]
Catching COVID significantly raises the risk of developing kidney disease, researchers find
Catching Covid significantly raises the risk of developing deadly kidney disease, research has shown. The virus was found to increase the chances that patients will develop the incurable condition by around 50 per cent. [...]
New Toothpaste Stops Gum Disease Without Harming Healthy Bacteria
Researchers have developed a targeted approach to combat periodontitis without disrupting the natural balance of the oral microbiome. The innovation could reshape how gum disease is treated while preserving beneficial bacteria. The human mouth [...]
Plastic Without End: Are We Polluting the Planet for Eternity?
The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for the elimination of plastic pollution by 2030. If that goal has been clearly set, why have meaningful measures that create real change still not been implemented? [...]
Scientists Rewire Natural Killer Cells To Attack Cancer Faster and Harder
Researchers tested new CAR designs in NK-92 cells and found the modified cells killed tumor cells more effectively, showing stronger anti-cancer activity. Researchers at the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center and the Center for Cell-Based [...]
New “Cellular” Target Could Transform How We Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study from researchers highlights an unexpected player in Alzheimer’s disease: aging astrocytes. Senescent astrocytes have been identified as a major contributor to Alzheimer’s progression. The cells lose protective functions and fuel inflammation, particularly in [...]
