Developing approaches to limit the impact of agricultural fungicides in driving clinical antifungal resistance – University of Manchester

Lead applicant

Dr Mike Bromley – University of Manchester

Co-applicants

Norman van Rhijn – University of Manchester

Michael Bottery – University of Manchester

Marin Brewer – University of Georgia

Michelle Momany – University of Georgia

Paulo Cezar Ceresini – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Barbara Pereira Christofaro Silva – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

​Rita Luiza Peruquetii – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Karine Assis Costa – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Ana Carolina Firmino – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Paulo Renato Matos Lopes – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Everlon Cid Rigobelo – São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Waldir Cintra de Jesus – Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)

​Ernesto Abel Fernando Friedmann Pallarolas – Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)

Roberta Barros Lovaglio – Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)

Geographical focus –  UK, USA & Brazil

Research Theme – One Health

Lay summary

Aspergillosis is an infectious disease caused by a fungus and kills around one million people each year. Spores from this fungus are found in the air we breathe, plant waste material, compost and farmed soils. People with poorly functioning immune systems have the greatest risk of infection. The azole-class of antifungals are frontline medicines for treatment of aspergillosis. At the same time azole fungicides play an essential role in agriculture, protecting crops from devastating fungal diseases. Inevitably, this dual-use has resulted in drug resistant human pathogens spreading from the environment to vulnerable patients. This has prompted calls to ban azoles, and some next generation fungicides. However, this call is premature due to a lack of evidence within ecologically relevant settings.

Unsupported decisions could put global food security at risk and have major impacts on agricultural based economies particularly within low- and middle-income countries. Currently we do not have strong evidence that new fungicides in field settings can cause the emergence of resistance to our newest clinical antifungals. Furthermore, it is not clear if resistance is emerging due to farming practices, or because of composting contaminated plant material. We also do not know if resistance is more likely to emerge in tropical countries where higher temperatures can promote faster growth of fungi.

This study will investigate if azole resistant fungi can be found in farms in Brazil, US and the UK and if the next generation of fungicides can drive resistance to our newest antifungals when used in a commercial setting.