Experimental evolution and anti-fungal resistance

About this Research Topic

Background

Fungi are present in natural environments, and many possess the ability to colonize human bodies. Indeed superficial fungal infections affect 25% of the population worldwide, and invasive fungal disease results in the deaths of 1.6 million people per year. Such high mortality rates are due in part to the limited number of antifungal drugs available, but also to the rise in anti-fungal resistant strains, which substantially limit treatment options. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie antifungal resistance, as well as the factors that facilitate the emergence of resistant strains is imperative in order to tackle this problem.

Experimental evolution is a powerful technique that examines the dynamics and molecular basis of adaptation in highly controlled environments. The goal of this research topic is to identify experimental evolution approaches that can be used to dissect how fungal species adapt to, and develop resistance to, antifungal drugs. Such experiments can determine what factors dictate evolutionary trajectories in this context, as well as provide an in-depth analysis of the types of mutations that arise. Furthermore, evolved strains can be used to assess fitness trade-offs that occur during the acquisition of antifungal resistance. Currently, the antifungal resistance field has a limited number of studies that compare the molecular adaptation of experimentally derived populations with that from naturally occurring ones. Such a comparative approach needs to be part of this topic as it is essential not only to understand the relevance of experimental approaches, but also to help inform the design of future experiments. In summary, the aim of this topic is to encompass causal studies on antifungal resistance based on broad experimental support, as well as correlative studies based on comparative approaches.

Manuscripts including original research articles or review articles are very welcome. Although the primary focus here is on controlled, laboratory-based evolution experiments, articles relating to the adaptation of fungal pathogens to antifungal drugs within their hosts, are also welcome. Specific themes include (but are not limited to):

• Temporal dynamics of antifungal resistance mutations in experimental fungal populations.

• Distribution of fitness effects of antifungal resistance mutations in experimental populations, and comparisons with natural populations.

• Comparisons of anti-fungal resistant mutations (type/frequency/target/pleiotrophy) between experimental and natural fungal populations.

• Role of (i) genome stability and mutation rate, (ii) ploidy (iii) non-genetic/epigenetic factors, or (iv) antifungal tolerance during experimental evolution of antifungal resistance

• The repeatability of the evolution of antifungal resistance.

Keywords: Antifungal resistance, experimental evolution, adaptation, mutation, antifungal tolerance.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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