Warm congratulations to the Associate Dean of the Medical School of the University of Crete, Professor Georgios Chamilos, and his collaborators on the publication of their groundbreaking research in the world-leading journal Nature.

The study, conducted through an international scientific collaboration led by the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas (FORTH), reveals a previously unknown defense mechanism of the human body. The researchers discovered that albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood, acts as a protective shield against mucormycosis, a dangerous and often fatal fungal infection known as “black fungus.”

Their findings show that albumin carries free fatty acids that inhibit fungal growth and toxin production. This explains why individuals with low albumin levels, including many patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to this deadly infection.

The work highlights the critical role of albumin in the immune defense system, opens new avenues for therapeutic strategies, and offers hope in the fight against a disease with extremely high mortality rates. The study has already received international recognition, with commentary in both Science and Nature, underscoring its global scientific impact.