Hyderabad, Feb. 8 -- Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have uncovered how fungi turn harmful inside the human body, highlighting a growing but often underestimated global health threat.

Fungal infections are increasingly linked to hospitalisations and deaths worldwide, while also damaging crops and worsening food insecurity. Treatment options remain limited, as antifungal drugs are few, often toxic, and losing effectiveness due to resistance.

Shape-shifting behind fungal virulence

The study, led by Dr Sriram Varahan, shows that fungi become dangerous by changing their shape-a process controlled not only by genes, as previously believed, but also by metabolism, particularly how fungi us...