Abundant blood protein albumin identified as critical defense against deadly black fungus infections

Lundquist Institute study reveals albumin protects against mucormycosis. Low levels predict death, while fatty acid-enriched albumin blocks fungal invasion.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 9:05 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Lundquist Institute

Identification of albumin as a natural antifungal barrier

An international research team led by the University of Crete and The Lundquist Institute has identified albumin as a powerful protector against mucormycosis, a fast-moving and often fatal fungal infection. Known colloquially as "black fungus," mucormycosis is caused by Mucorales fungi and carries a mortality rate of up to 50 percent. The findings, published in the journal Nature, establish that this common protein does more than maintain blood volume, it actively suppresses fungal growth. By analyzing patient data across multiple continents, scientists determined that individuals with the infection consistently lacked sufficient levels of this specific protein, leaving their systems vulnerable to rapid organ invasion.

The correlation between hypoalbuminemia and mortality

The study highlights that low levels of albumin, a condition known as hypoalbuminemia, serve as the strongest predictor of severe outcomes and death in mucormycosis cases. Researchers compared patients with various fungal infections and found that those battling black fungus had significantly lower albumin concentrations than those with other types of mycoses. This discovery provides clinicians with a critical biomarker to identify high-risk individuals, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those with diabetes, compromised immune systems, or severe malnutrition. The presence of this protein appears to be a decisive factor in whether the body can contain the fungal spread or succumb to it.

Mechanism of fungal invasion suppression

Laboratory investigations revealed how albumin nullifies the virulence factors used by Mucorales fungi to damage human tissue. The protein works by specifically targeting and neutralizing toxins and other fungal proteins that facilitate the invasion of human organs. Experiments showed that when albumin was removed from healthy blood samples, the fungus was able to multiply without resistance. Conversely, in animal models that lacked the protein, restoring albumin levels provided significant protection against the disease. This specialized activity allows albumin to inhibit pathogenic fungi without disrupting the balance of other necessary microbes within the human body.