Mucorales and Mucormycosis: Recent Insights and Future Prospects

The classification of encompasses a collection of basal fungi that have traditionally demonstrated an aversion to modern genetic manipulation techniques. This aversion led to a scarcity of knowledge regarding their biology compared to other fungal groups. However, the emergence of mucormycosis, a fungal disease caused by , has attracted the attention of the clinical field, mainly because available therapies are ineffective for decreasing the fatal outcome associated with the disease. This revitalized curiosity about and mucormycosis, also encouraged by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, has spurred a significant and productive effort to uncover their mysteries in recent years. Here, we elaborate on the most remarkable breakthroughs related to the recently discovered genetic advances in and mucormycosis. The utilization of a few genetic study models has enabled the identification of virulence factors in that were previously described in other pathogens. More notably, recent investigations have identified novel genes and mechanisms controlling the pathogenic potential of and their interactions with the host, providing fresh avenues to devise new strategies against mucormycosis. Finally, new study models are allowing virulence studies that were previously hampered in , predicting a prolific future for the field.