Exploring fungal diversity in Vietnam: A citizen science initiative.

ABSTRACT

Invasive fungal diseases are increasing globally, causing a large burden of disease in vulnerable populations. At the same time, antifungal resistance is rapidly emerging. Affordable nationwide and regional surveillance of fungal pathogens is needed. We have adapted a citizen-science methodology developed by a United Kingdom research group to study six key fungi in Vietnam, where there is no existing formal surveillance. These pathogens were ranked as high or critical in the World Health Organization fungal priority pathogens list and recognized as major disease-causing agents in Vietnam. Secondary school students (n = 90) in Hanoi were our citizen scientists, collecting soil (n = 90) and air (n = 90) samples for fungal identification and characterisation of drug-susceptibility in the laboratory. Pilot studies confirmed the effectiveness of our revised isolation procedure, which used selective culture media to improve the isolation of target fungi. Through active school and student involvement, optimized protocols, and our cost-effective sampling, the study could be scaled across Vietnam. We demonstrate an approach to fungal surveillance which also enhances science education, and awareness of fungal diseases. It addresses critical healthcare and education challenges in Vietnam while combating the growing issues of invasive fungal diseases and antifungal resistance.