Environmental Occurrence and Diversity of Azole-Resistant Soil Fungi under Different Agricultural Practices
Student/in: Lisa Schlappack, BSc
Termin: 24.07.2026, 13.00 Uhr
Ort: Hörsaal F
1. Prüfer/in: Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Sigrid Neuhauser
2. Prüfer/in: Clara Baldin, PhD
Vorsitzende/r: Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Sabine Podmirseg
Interessierte Kolleginnen und Kollegen sind herzlich willkommen!
Abstract
The increasing number of azole-resistant fungi in the environment and in clinical settings poses a growing challenge for agriculture, the environment, and public health. Azoles, which are used both as fungicides to protect crops in agriculture and to treat fungal infections in medicine, are among the most commonly used antifungal agents. The use of azoles in the agricultural sector in particular can promote the development of resistant strains, which may also carry clinically relevant resistances. Resistance mechanisms that originally developed in the soil can thus represent a possible source of medically relevant resistances. The aim of this study is to analyze the diversity and frequency of primarily azole-resistant fungi in soils with different management practices. In addition, possible correlations between agricultural use, soil parameters, and the occurrence of resistance will be analyzed. This work aims to gain a better understanding of the development and spread of resistance in natural and agriculturally used soils.