Work

mSphere of Influence: Population-level thinking to unravel microbial pathogenicity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Amelia E. Barber works in the field of fungal genomics and pathogenesis. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Strain heterogeneity in a non-pathogenic Aspergillus fungus highlights factors associated with virulence” from the group of Antonis Rokas changed her view on the binary characterization of microbes as pathogens or non-pathogens. The work highlights the overlapping virulence traits shared between the two groups and encourages the use of a population-based framework. To understand the full spectrum of microbial pathogenic potential, virulence phenotypes are characterized across a strain population of isolates from “pathogenic” species and closely related “non-pathogens,” in this case revealing a continuum rather than a clear distinction.

Source: mSphere

DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00588-24

Author: Amelia E. Barber

Institution: Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Language: English

Topic: Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,500