Virus Inside Fungus May Drive Deadly Infections: Study

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Jerusalem: Israeli and German researchers have discovered that a virus living inside a deadly fungus can significantly increase its danger to humans, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said Thursday.

The study, published in Nature Microbiology, found that the virus gives the Aspergillus fumigatus fungus a major survival advantage.

The fungus is responsible for most invasive fungal infections in humans and is particularly lethal for people with weakened immune systems, with mortality rates near 50 percent.

Researchers revealed that the hidden virus helps the fungus withstand stress such as heat and oxidative conditions inside mammalian lungs. Removing the virus weakened the fungus, reducing its ability to reproduce, produce protective melanin, and cause damage in infected animals.

Antiviral treatments targeting the virus also improved survival rates in mammals, the study showed. Mycoviruses viruses that infect fungi do not directly cause illness but can influence the severity of fungal infections.

According to the researchers, targeting the viral partner could weaken the fungus, allowing the immune system and existing drugs to fight infections more effectively.