Fungal infections are a major contributor to human infectious diseases. To address this in Latin America, international groups formed the Fungal Disease Interest Group (FDIG). At the Brazil conference of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycoses (ISHAM), FDIG hosted a forum highlighting key challenges and priorities to advance fungal disease research, education, and public health across the region.

Microbial metabolic functions are increasingly conceptualized as fitness-regulating traits. However, volatile compounds (the volatilome), despite their key roles in metabolism and ecology, are often overlooked in trait-based frameworks. We propose that volatile traits not only reflect ecological strategies but also shape them by mediating responses to selection pressures. Their volatility affects diffusion, substrate access, and interactions across space, conferring selective advantages as resources or waste products. We outline approaches to incorporate volatile traits into predictive models to improve understanding of microbial selection and community dynamics. This integration enables a more holistic view of microbial life by accounting for the ecological and evolutionary consequences of volatile-mediated processes.

Eliza Loo

Darshak K. Bhatt

As antimicrobial resistance threatens the future of the aquaculture industry, numerous studies have investigated the use of phages against aquaculture diseases over the past decades. Despite reports of efficient pathogen control, commercial phage solutions are sparse. We discuss limitations of phage therapy and provide suggestions for the progression towards commercially viable solutions. We argue that phage therapy in aquaculture should focus on disease prevention rather than on treatment to reduce the need for antimicrobials. Further, the phage-delivery methods should target the variable pathogen distribution throughout the production chain. Finally, the key challenges of host-specificity and resistance should be tackled by developing predictive tools that can be used to assess phage–pathogen compatibility within a realistic timeframe.

Luís Manuel Macedo da Silva (Luís M. Silva)

Luís Manuel Macedo da Silva (Luís M. Silva)

We live in a world that’s marred with health inequities driven by various factors including socioeconomic status, access to education and healthcare, gender, and political power structures [1]. Geography influences many of these, often resulting in communities living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) being disproportionately affected. For instance, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a significant driver of mortality, account for nearly 80% of deaths in LMICs [2,3]. Interventions aimed at tackling infectious diseases often favour high-income countries (HICs) such as in the case of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which are more prevalent in LMICs [4].

Eliza Loo

Protists comprise the vast majority of eukaryotic genetic and functional diversity. While they have traditionally been difficult to study due to their small size and varied phenotypes, environmental sequencing studies have revealed the stunning diversity and abundance of protists in all ecosystems. Protists are key primary and secondary producers across many biomes, with ecological specializations that range from mutualism to parasitism, complex predation behaviors, mixotrophy, detritivory, and saprotrophy. Current genomic and transcriptomic approaches provide valuable insights into protist diversity at the genetic level, but they fall short in capturing the morphological and behavioral traits critical for understanding the functional roles of protists in ecosystems. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to answer important questions about protist functional diversity, including how protist functional groups will respond to environmental change. In this opinion article, we advocate adopting a traits-based approach for studying protist diversity and developing a trait database for protists to support this goal. By integrating examples of recent work characterizing protist functional diversity using a range of approaches, we emphasize the opportunities that trait databases offer and propose strategies for moving towards a trait-based framework to guide future research in protist ecology and evolution.

Mosquito-borne viral diseases pose a growing global health threat, with over half of the world’s population living in high-risk areas. In the absence of effective vaccines or antiviral therapies for most mosquito-borne viruses, vector control remains the primary strategy. However, traditional insecticides face rising resistance and ecological concerns. Microbe-derived agents have emerged as promising, sustainable alternatives. This review summarizes advances in microbe-based control strategies, focusing on mechanisms of action, translational relevance, and field application. Particular attention is given to bacterial, fungal, and viral agents that have progressed from laboratory studies to field use. The review highlights promising microbial candidates and offers strategic insights to guide the development and integration of next-generation tools for controlling mosquito-borne viral diseases.

From the human gut to the deep ocean, diverse microbial communities underpin essential ecosystem processes. Limited understanding of the dynamics and interactions that shape these communities, however...

In South America, few countries can produce vaccines and biologicals for clinical research under current good manufacturing practices (cGMP), which is a significant barrier to translating applied microbiology and immunology research into clinical trials, as well as further licensing and commercialization. In this comment, we offer a perspective on the relevance of enhancing cGMP production capacities for clinical trials in addressing specific epidemiological challenges in South America.

Jingdi Li

From the human gut to the deep ocean, diverse microbial communities underpin essential ecosystem processes. Limited understanding of the dynamics and interactions that shape these communities, however, constrains efforts to culture, investigate, and harness their potential. Further, these knowledge gaps restrict the ability to predict microbial responses to broader biodiversity declines and global change. Among the numerous types of microbial interactions, metabolite exchanges, or 'metabolic handoffs', are a well-documented phenomenon. Recent methodological advances have uncovered a broader spectrum of metabolic handoffs than previously appreciated. Varying in both mechanism and ecological role, metabolic handoffs influence diverse natural environments. In this review, we define two major types of metabolic handoffs, examine their potential drivers and benefits, and highlight emerging research that underscores their widespread occurrence and importance in complex microbial ecosystems.

Bacillus velezensis is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-pathogenic, motile and spore-forming bacterium. It is commonly found in the soil, particularly in the rhizosphere (i.e., the area of soil surrounding plant roots). Due to its beneficial properties, B. velezensis is considered an important member of the plant-associated microbiome. Consequently, in recent decades, this species has become a model organism for studying both plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria and biological control agents (BCAs).

Microbial-assisted restoration (MaR) is gaining traction, yet its outcomes under recurring and extreme drought remain uncertain. We propose that ecological debt – functional erosion from trade-offs between stress tolerance and performance – can limit MaR success. By linking this debt to microbial coalescence dynamics, we offer a framework to improve microbiome-based restoration under climatic stress.

Alphaviruses are mosquito-borne pathogens causing rheumatological disease and encephalomyelitis. Their spread, enhanced by climate change, presents a growing global health threat. To date, no specific treatments and, except for chikungunya virus, no preventive vaccines exist. Alphavirus infection induces cross-reactive antibodies targeting conserved epitopes in glycoprotein E1 and E2. While cross-reactivity can facilitate the development of broad-spectrum vaccines, it complicates serological diagnosis in regions with multiple co-circulating alphaviruses. This review examines how antibody cross-reactivity can foster development of cross-protective vaccines and therapeutics but also how it may present challenges such as antibody-dependent enhancement of disease and diagnostic misinterpretation. Understanding the conservation of epitopes is crucial for designing effective therapies, vaccines, and precise diagnostics to mitigate the alphavirus disease burden globally.