Fungal infections are increasing worldwide and are becoming an increasing threat for global health. In 2022, the WHO published a list of the most important fungal pathogens that are of significant concern. This list also includes the group of Mucorales containing Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp and Lichtheimia spp. as the most predominant species that cause severe invasive disease in immunocompromised patients. Further, infections by these fungi are specifically difficult to manage in the clinics as they are associated with fulminant progression of disease, mortality rates up to 90%, which is partly due to high resistance rates against commonly used antifungal drugs, and some of these species can also infect otherwise healthy individuals.

The covid-19 pandemic has shown that outbreaks caused by this group of fungi can occur, such as the mucormycosis epidemic in India, communicated in public media as the "black fungus epidemic".

Joint Project

In this joint project we aim to genetically modify strains of Rhizopus microsporus and M. circinelloides to render them bioluminescent and use them in various infection models to study disease establishment and progression and antifungal efficacy. Additionally, we will generate strains that harbour luciferase and have gene deletions in genes relevant for iron homestasis.

With this study we will gain a deeper insight in mucormycosis, we will determine and characterise virulence factors, and thereby obtain relevant information for future drug targets.