Cover Letter

To: Prof. Kimberly Freeman, COLWRIT 161 class, College Writing Program
From: Destiny Okoh
Date: 12 November 2023
Subject: Emergence of invasive fungal diseases in humans due to Global Warming

I've chosen to write an explainer article for my popular audience genre, focusing
on the series "The Last of Us" to explore the ongoing issues surrounding fungi. The
series depicts a particular fungus that mutates and attacks the human brain, causing
an apocalypse. Normally, fungi don't infect humans due to a temperature barrier that
separates them. However, my article explores how changes in the environment have
enabled fungi to surpass temperature barriers and infect humans. My article will likely
be accessible on platforms like Science News Explore, catering to individuals
interested in science and discoveries but not necessarily part of the scientific
community. In the article, I've used MLA formatting for referencing figures and citing
quotes and information.
This article is a modified version of my literature review. The review begins by
offering fundamental background on climate change, providing context on its overall
impact on our environment. This segways into the exploration of fungi, particularly
how humans have historically evaded fungal infections. Two main protective
factors—our immune system and body temperatures—are highlighted in this section.
Next, the review explores how fungi have adapted to replicate at warmer temperatures,
enabling their invasion of humans. I then present a specific fungal disease, Candida
Auris, which is believed to have emerged due to climate change. Finally, the review
suggests crucial areas of research pertinent to this topic.
My aim with both the literature review and the explainer article is to raise
awareness of the dangers of fungi, especially because their spread can be managed by
a change in human actions. Additionally, I hope to highlight areas of fungal research
that need to be explored to combat and prepare for a potential outbreak of invasive
fungus.