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Israeli researchers have discovered a plant-based molecule that can effectively combat pathogenic fungi and serve as a foundation for developing environmentally friendly treatments. The study was led by Dr. Ofri Levi of the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute and Tel-Hai College’s Faculty of Sciences, together with Prof. Benny Horwitz of the Technion’s Faculty of Biology.
Their findings were published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, and offer a new approach to addressing one of the fastest-growing threats to public health and agriculture: fungi that have developed resistance to medications and pesticides.
Fungal pathogens pose a serious danger to humans and crops. In people, invasive fungal infections can be fatal, especially among those with weakened immune systems. An estimated 2.5 million people die from fungal infections each year. In agriculture, fungi destroy 10 to 20 percent of global crop yields annually despite widespread pesticide use, threatening food security for millions.