Could fungal pathogens outsmart us before we find ways to combat them? Humans and fungi share nearly 50 percent of the same DNA. Because we're related, designing drugs to combat the varieties that attack us is a challenge. Meanwhile, in an ever hotter, wetter world, fungi may be finding new ways to thrive, queueing up global outbreak potentials for which no vaccine and woefully few medications exist; some fungi are already beginning to resist treatment. Among other lifeforms, bats, amphibians, and essential crops are also increasingly threatened by these pathogens. Enter fungal kingdom frontiersman Dr. Arturo Casadevall, an epidemiologist, professor, and inventor. Casadevall shares how the 1990s AIDS epidemic's fungal complications drove his medical mycology work, how COVID-19's fungal incidences underscore the continuing threat to the immunocompromised, and how he and his Johns Hopkins University laboratory team are discovering ways to counter the threats posed by these cunning, hungry combatants. What If Fungi Win? describes the beneficial roles of fungi along with their mischievous and deadly impacts and illustrates how committed experts like Casadevall are researching ways to save us and our food supplies. In addition to an overview of blights, lichens, molds, mushrooms, rusts, and smuts, readers will learn about: • how fungi proliferated following the mass dinosaur extinction • Oregon's ancient 2,384-acre Armillaria ostoyae—Earth's largest organism • the rye fungus ergot that may have fueled the Salem witch trials • mushrooms used to create vegan leather and eco-friendly packaging, as well as plastic-consuming fungi • why it's critical that funding institutions pay attention to fungal risks and aid scientists in their work.
Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better A riveting exploration of the world of science, diving headfirst into its triumphs and tribulations. Penned by seasoned microbiologists Ferric C. Fang and Arturo Casadevall, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of the scientific enterprise through various lenses, including historical, philosophical, and personal. From their unique vantage points as researchers, clinicians, and educators, Fang and Casadevall dissect the intricate mechanisms of science, shedding light on its strengths and weaknesses. Through engaging historical anecdotes, personal narratives, and insightful academic studies, they present a candid evaluation of science's performance, including a thought-provoking examination of its role during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Thinking about Science goes beyond merely reflecting on the past and present—it offers a bold prescription for the future. As humanity grapples with monumental challenges, this book underscores the pivotal role science must play in navigating these uncharted territories. A must-read for anyone curious about the present predicaments and future potential of science, Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better is more than just a book; it's a roadmap to understanding and improving the scientific endeavor for the benefit of society at large. Ferric C. Fang and Arturo Casadevall are physician-scientists and journal editors who have studied infectious diseases for more than three decades and have a longstanding interest in the culture and sociology of science. Dr. Fang is presently a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology, Medicine, and Global Health at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Dr. Casadevall is presently a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the Johns Hopkins Schools of Public Health and Medicine.
The recent dramatic increase in the incidence of Cryptococcus neoformans infections calls for an up–to–date look at the biology and pathogenesis of this fungus. The last monograph on this subject was written in 1956; since then much has been learned about this subject, and because of the AIDS epidemic, its medical importance is now significant. This major new book covers the biology and major clinical developments of C. neoformans infections, including theoretical as well as practical information (how to prepare reagents, for instance). This subject area has become a major concern facing infectious disease physicians in the era of AIDS and immunocompromised patients. Researchers and clinicians alike will find this new text to be an invaluable reference about this increasingly deadly fungal pathogen.
Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better A riveting exploration of the world of science, diving headfirst into its triumphs and tribulations. Penned by seasoned microbiologists Ferric C. Fang and Arturo Casadevall, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of the scientific enterprise through various lenses, including historical, philosophical, and personal. From their unique vantage points as researchers, clinicians, and educators, Fang and Casadevall dissect the intricate mechanisms of science, shedding light on its strengths and weaknesses. Through engaging historical anecdotes, personal narratives, and insightful academic studies, they present a candid evaluation of science's performance, including a thought-provoking examination of its role during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Thinking about Science goes beyond merely reflecting on the past and present—it offers a bold prescription for the future. As humanity grapples with monumental challenges, this book underscores the pivotal role science must play in navigating these uncharted territories. A must-read for anyone curious about the present predicaments and future potential of science, Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better is more than just a book; it's a roadmap to understanding and improving the scientific endeavor for the benefit of society at large. Ferric C. Fang and Arturo Casadevall are physician-scientists and journal editors who have studied infectious diseases for more than three decades and have a longstanding interest in the culture and sociology of science. Dr. Fang is presently a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology, Medicine, and Global Health at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Dr. Casadevall is presently a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the Johns Hopkins Schools of Public Health and Medicine.
Could fungal pathogens outsmart us before we find ways to combat them? Humans and fungi share nearly 50 percent of the same DNA. Because we're related, designing drugs to combat the varieties that attack us is a challenge. Meanwhile, in an ever hotter, wetter world, fungi may be finding new ways to thrive, queueing up global outbreak potentials for which no vaccine and woefully few medications exist; some fungi are already beginning to resist treatment. Among other lifeforms, bats, amphibians, and essential crops are also increasingly threatened by these pathogens. Enter fungal kingdom frontiersman Dr. Arturo Casadevall, an epidemiologist, professor, and inventor. Casadevall shares how the 1990s AIDS epidemic's fungal complications drove his medical mycology work, how COVID-19's fungal incidences underscore the continuing threat to the immunocompromised, and how he and his Johns Hopkins University laboratory team are discovering ways to counter the threats posed by these cunning, hungry combatants. What If Fungi Win? describes the beneficial roles of fungi along with their mischievous and deadly impacts and illustrates how committed experts like Casadevall are researching ways to save us and our food supplies. In addition to an overview of blights, lichens, molds, mushrooms, rusts, and smuts, readers will learn about: • how fungi proliferated following the mass dinosaur extinction • Oregon's ancient 2,384-acre Armillaria ostoyae—Earth's largest organism • the rye fungus ergot that may have fueled the Salem witch trials • mushrooms used to create vegan leather and eco-friendly packaging, as well as plastic-consuming fungi • why it's critical that funding institutions pay attention to fungal risks and aid scientists in their work.
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