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
Scientists Are Pretty Close to Replicating the First Thing That Ever Lived
For 400 million years, a leading hypothesis claims, Earth was an “RNA World,” meaning that life must’ve first replicated from RNA before the arrival of proteins and DNA. Unfortunately, scientists have failed to find [...]
Why ‘Peniaphobia’ Is Exploding Among Young People (And Why We Should Be Concerned)
An insidious illness is taking hold among a growing proportion of young people. Little known to the general public, peniaphobia—the fear of becoming poor—is gaining ground among teens and young adults. Discover the causes [...]
Team finds flawed data in recent study relevant to coronavirus antiviral development
The COVID pandemic illustrated how urgently we need antiviral medications capable of treating coronavirus infections. To aid this effort, researchers quickly homed in on part of SARS-CoV-2's molecular structure known as the NiRAN domain—an [...]
Drug-Coated Neural Implants Reduce Immune Rejection
Summary: A new study shows that coating neural prosthetic implants with the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone helps reduce the body’s immune response and scar tissue formation. This strategy enhances the long-term performance and stability of electrodes [...]
Scientists discover cancer-fighting bacteria that ‘soak up’ forever chemicals in the body
A family of healthy bacteria may help 'soak up' toxic forever chemicals in the body, warding off their cancerous effects. Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are toxic chemicals that [...]
Johns Hopkins Researchers Uncover a New Way To Kill Cancer Cells
A new study reveals that blocking ribosomal RNA production rewires cancer cell behavior and could help treat genetically unstable tumors. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular [...]
AI matches doctors in mapping lung tumors for radiation therapy
In radiation therapy, precision can save lives. Oncologists must carefully map the size and location of a tumor before delivering high-dose radiation to destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. But this process, called [...]
Scientists Finally “See” Key Protein That Controls Inflammation
Researchers used advanced microscopy to uncover important protein structures. For the first time, two important protein structures in the human body are being visualized, thanks in part to cutting-edge technology at the University of [...]
AI tool detects 9 types of dementia from a single brain scan
Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps clinicians identify brain activity patterns linked to nine types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, using a single, widely available scan—a transformative [...]
Is plastic packaging putting more than just food on your plate?
New research reveals that common food packaging and utensils can shed microscopic plastics into our food, prompting urgent calls for stricter testing and updated regulations to protect public health. Beyond microplastics: The analysis intentionally [...]
Aging Spreads Through the Bloodstream
Summary: New research reveals that aging isn’t just a local cellular process—it can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. A redox-sensitive protein called ReHMGB1, secreted by senescent cells, was found to trigger aging features [...]
AI and nanomedicine find rare biomarkers for prostrate cancer and atherosclerosis
Imagine a stadium packed with 75,000 fans, all wearing green and white jerseys—except one person in a solid green shirt. Finding that person would be tough. That's how hard it is for scientists to [...]
Are Pesticides Breeding the Next Pandemic? Experts Warn of Fungal Superbugs
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 [...]
Scientists Crack the 500-Million-Year-Old Code That Controls Your Immune System
A collaborative team from Penn Medicine and Penn Engineering has uncovered the mathematical principles behind a 500-million-year-old protein network that determines whether foreign materials are recognized as friend or foe. How does your body [...]
Team discovers how tiny parts of cells stay organized, new insights for blocking cancer growth
A team of international researchers led by scientists at City of Hope provides the most thorough account yet of an elusive target for cancer treatment. Published in Science Advances, the study suggests a complex signaling [...]
Nanomaterials in Ophthalmology: A Review
Eye diseases are becoming more common. In 2020, over 250 million people had mild vision problems, and 295 million experienced moderate to severe ocular conditions. In response, researchers are turning to nanotechnology and nanomaterials—tools that are transforming [...]