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Fungi in water pose great risk to immune-compromised individuals

24 July 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

Yeast and other filamentous fungi, which pose a great risk to the health of immune-compromised or suppressed individuals, can be found in various drinking water sources such as ground, spring, surface, and tap water. These opportunistic pathogens may cause severe to fatal infections and can range from superficial to bloodstream or systemic infections.

This is according to Tyla Baker, a postgraduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is studying for her MSc degree in Microbiology under the supervision Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn, National Research Forum (NRF) SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts. Prof Jacobus Albertyn and Dr Jolly Musoke are her co-supervisors.

Baker says the fungi in the water highlights that current water treatment processes are not efficient in their removal from water destined for household use. “These infections may not be harmful to people with healthy immune systems, but do pose a great risk to the health of immune-compromised or suppressed individuals.

Definite possibility to contract fungal infections from polluted water

“As the number of people with immune systems that are less functional (e.g. premature babies, elderly persons, people with cancer, diabetes or other serious diseases, HIV+ persons, transplant patients) increases, the number of people at risk of fungal infection also increases,” says Baker.

According to Baker, a previous study done in Brazil has identified yeast in bottled mineral water as well as municipally supplied tap water. The potential risk to contract fungal infections from polluted water sources is a definite possibility but more research is required to fully understand and determine the level of risk and the extent of its effects, she says. In the context of Mangaung, it is a concern that untreated water from sewage works as well as other sewage often leaks into the environment (as evidenced by numerous recent articles in local newspapers). These waters are potential carriers of large numbers of pathogens (including pathogenic yeasts/fungi) that may increase the risk to people coming into contact with it.

Baker says there is a good chance people are consuming these kinds of micro-organisms daily, considering that yeast and other filamentous fungi can also form biofilms inside pipes and spread as the impact of water flow dislodges these cells. “People will not even be aware that they are consuming these micro-organisms, some fungi are considered nuisance microbes and may cause a change in the smell and taste of water which may act as an indicator that the water is contaminated, but tests would be needed to confirm this,” she says.

The effects of consuming these fungi are still a grey area of research since the full extent of the consumption of yeast is still unknown, but there are studies being conducted to elucidate the full impact of this occurrence, says Baker. The risk depends on the immune status of the person, the specific species of yeast/fungus ingested, and the number of cells/spores ingested.

Culture-dependent and independent methods

“It is important to know that many pathogenic yeasts and other fungi are opportunistic pathogens, meaning they infect individuals whose immune systems are compromised due to various reasons such as illness (HIV/AIDS, cancer, TB etc.), undergoing organ transplants or even something as simple as using antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics.

“Taking this into account, along with the HIV/AIDS statistics in South Africa, which has a prevalence rate of 13,7% with approximately 8,2 million people in 2021 living with HIV, these individuals are more susceptible to infection by these opportunistic pathogens. Some of these pathogenic yeasts are also multidrug resistant or show resistance to readily available antifungals, such as fluconazole, which hinders the ability of healthcare professionals to efficiently treat infections to avoid fatal/severe outcomes,” explains Baker.

For her studies, she will be testing for fungi in water by using a combination of culture-dependent and independent methods to try and identify yeast present in wastewater. Baker says culture-dependent techniques will include culturing (growing) yeast on an appropriate medium while culture-independent techniques will include more intricate molecular work in the form of a multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which will enable her to identify an array of pathogenic yeasts present in samples.

According to Baker, people can stay safe by boiling water before drinking it, although temperatures above 100°C are required to kill most harmful microbes. Regular cleaning of shower heads and faucets help to prevent build-up which may act as a surface to which fungi will attach to and grow. Another way to stay safe is to maintain and regularly inspect water filters for damage and avoid contact with untreated sewage.

News Archive

UFS honours young researchers

2006-02-10

Some of the guests attending the recognition function were from the left: Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS), Mr Joseph Smiles (lecturer at the UFS Department of Political Science and Thuthuka grant holder), Prof Frans Swanepoel (Director: Research Development at the UFS) and Dr Carlien Pohl (lecturer at the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology and Thuthuka grant holder).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The guest speaker was Prof Jonathan Jansen, Dean: Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria (UP). He gave tips to young and promising researchers on how to be an outstanding scholar.
What is a Scholar

UFS honours young researchers

The University of the Free State (UFS) last night honoured 24 young researchers who are taking part in the National Research Fund’s (NRF) Thuthuka programme.

The recognition function is the first of its kind at the UFS. “The renewed focus on research development that was recently announced at the official opening of the UFS by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, is an indication of the institution’s endeavour to create an environment in which research can be improved and flourish. This can only be obtained when researchers are being valued and that is why it is important to honour our young researchers,” said Mrs Annelize Venter, researcher at the UFS Research Development Directorate and coordinator of the programme.

The focus on research was also touched on recently by President Thabo Mbeki during the opening of Parliament when he said: “We will continue to engage the leadership of our tertiary institutions focused on working with them to meet the nation’s expectations with regard to teaching and research. For its part, the government is determined to increase the resource allocation for research and development and innovation, and increase the pool of young researchers."

According to Mrs Venter, research done in 2004 shows that the majority researchers who publish are white males above the age of 50. “Many students who undertake magister studies choose not to conduct research, but rather to do a thesis and additional subjects. This means that research is not stimulated. Students also find it difficult to obtain financial support for postgraduate studies,” she explained.
“Thutuka is a capacity building programme of the NRF that is aimed to
fund and support the qualifications of women and young black scientists and other researchers who do not have a rating for postgraduate research. It is based on a funding partnership between the UFS and the NRF,” said Mrs Venter.

Last night Prof Frans Swanepoel, Director: Research Development at the UFS, added to his by saying: “With the Thuthuka programme we aim to create and sustain a research culture at the UFS, promote international research and train researchers of a high quality and enhance the research capacity at the UFS by focusing on women, black researchers and other promising researchers.”

The programme was started by the NRF in 2001. At that stage only 17 grants were made countrywide. Last year 370 postgraduate students took part in the programme.

According to Mrs Venter the programme was implemented at the UFS in 2003. “At that stage we only had 5 grant holders. This year there are 24 Ph D and magister students on the programme,” she said.

A couple of young promising researchers, who will be participating in the programme in 2007, also attended last night’s recognition function.

The guest speaker was Prof Jonathan Jansen, Dean: Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria (UP). He gave tips to young and promising researchers on how to be an outstanding scholar.

Nine professors were also congratulated with their promotion to senior research professor, namely Proff Louise Cilliers (Department of English and Classical Languages), James du Preez (Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology), Johan Grobbelaar (Department of Plant Sciences), Dingie Janse van Rensburg (Centre for Health Systems Research and Development), Dap Louw (Department of Psychology), Philip Nel (Department of Afro-asiatic Studies and Language Practice and Sign Language), Louis Scott (Department of Plant Sciences), Dirk van den Berg (Department of History of Art) and Andries Raath (Department of Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law).

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
10 February 2006

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