A study published in mBio identifies ceramide synthase as an important factor in the morphology of filamentous fungal biofilms and in how these fungi respond to antifungal drugs. Filamentous fungi — the group that includes Aspergillus species and other molds implicated in human respiratory illness — form biofilms that are notoriously difficult to treat and a recognized driver of antifungal resistance.
The lead author, Puerner CTS, and colleagues report that ceramide synthase activity is tied to both biofilm structure and susceptibility to antifungal agents. The finding adds to a growing body of basic-science research aimed at understanding why filamentous fungi resist treatment, particularly in chronic infections of the lung and sinuses.
The full study is available via PubMed.