Why I’m Focusing on Fungi
Viruses, bacteria, and fungi are everywhere—in soil, water, air, on surfaces, in food, and even inside our bodies. Most are harmless or even beneficial, but some can cause serious illness. What’s less widely known is that viruses can sometimes hijack fungi as a surrogate host, using their cells to shelter, replicate, or spread. For someone with a compromised immune system, this invisible microbial world can be a quiet but potent threat. Fungi thrive in damp environments—beneath sinks, in bathrooms, and inside washing machines—and can also occur in food and water. In my own petri-dish and microscopy experiments, I repeatedly observed growth consistent with Penicillium and Candida , deepening my interest in how fungi, viruses, and the immune system interact. CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) is a proposed multi-system inflammatory condition associated particularly with exposure to water-damaged or mold-contaminated buildings. Reported symptoms include fatigue, cognitive an...