Yes, there has been a recent case where a plant-specific fungus infected a human. This is considered the first reported case of its kind³⁴. The fungus, known as **Chondrostereum purpureum**, typically causes a disease called **silver leaf** in plants⁷. However, it infected a 61-year-old Indian mycologist, causing a serious case of silver leaf disease in his throat³⁴.
The patient presented to a medical center with symptoms such as a cough and hoarse voice, fatigue, and difficulty swallowing³⁴. A CT X-ray scan of his neck revealed a pus-filled abscess next to his trachea³⁴. Lab tests failed to find any bacteria of concern, but a special staining technique for fungi revealed the presence of long, root-like filaments called hyphae³⁴.
This particular infection didn't look much like common fungal diseases in humans, such as ringworm, athlete's foot, and thrush³⁴. The medical specialists sought advice from a World Health Organization fungi reference and research center, who identified the unlikely suspect from its DNA³⁴.
The patient couldn't recall having worked with this particular species recently. His field work had brought him into contact with decaying material and other plant fungi, potentially explaining the source of his infection³⁴. It's extremely rare for a fungus adapted to threading its hyphae through leaves and stems to find success in doing the same inside our flesh³⁴. The fact that the patient appeared to have a fully functioning immune system makes it even more perplexing³⁴.
