A virus has been discovered that makes fungal infections deadly

Scientists have discovered that a virus living inside the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus makes it significantly more dangerous and resistant to stressful conditions.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Nature Microbiology, a study led by Netta Schlesinger from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine showed: removing the virus weakens the fungus - it reproduces poorly, loses protective properties, and becomes less dangerous. Conversely, antiviral therapy increased the survival rate of infected animals.

Aspergillus fumigatus is considered one of the main causative agents of invasive fungal infections in humans. Patients with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable: mortality from such infections reaches 50%. Previously, it was believed that the cause was exclusively in the fungus itself, but now it has become clear that the double RNA-viral "filling" inside it acts as a hidden enhancer, helping the pathogen survive at high temperatures and in the aggressive environment of the lungs.

Researchers suggest that such microviruses may be an important underestimated factor in the development of fungal diseases. Moreover, they could become a new therapeutic target: by suppressing the virus, the fungus itself can be weakened and made more vulnerable to the immune system and antifungal drugs.

"These viruses are like passengers in the back seat," explains Schlesinger. "They don't cause the disease themselves, but they enhance the aggressiveness of the fungus in the body."

Scientists believe that the discovery can change the approach to treating fungal infections and provide new ways to combat them in conditions of growing resistance to existing drugs.