Fungals are becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal medications. Just like with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we've seen the problem of antibiotic overuse resulting in bacteria evolving resistance to these common drugs. The same thing is happening with fungi, and there isn't much of a pipeline of them being developed. So just like we need new antibiotics, we also desperately and urgently need new antifungals. And what about vaccines? Any of those coming along in the pipeline? Vaccines. There aren't any for humans at the moment. It would take years of research to be able to develop one because that infrastructure isn't there at the present. On top of all of this, fungi
Madeleine Finlay speaks to Guardian science correspondent Linda Geddes about the possibility of a fungal pandemic like the one depicted in apocalyptic thriller The Last of Us. They discuss the strange world of fungi, the risks of infections and treatment resistance, and what we can do to protect ourselves from future fungal threats. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod