fungal infections – Page 18

Engineered biosynthesis and characterization of disaccharide-pimaricin

mycolabadmin

Scientists successfully created a genetically engineered bacterium that produces a safer version of an antifungal drug called pimaricin. The new version, called disaccharide-pimaricin, dissolves much better in water and causes significantly less damage to human blood cells, making it a much safer option for treating fungal infections. Although it’s slightly less effective at killing fungi, the improvement in safety and solubility makes it a promising candidate for treating eye infections and other fungal diseases.

Growth Phase-Dependent Changes in the Carbohydrate Metabolism of Penicillium Strains from Diverse Temperature Classes in Response to Cold Stress

mycolabadmin

This study examined how different fungal strains from cold and warm environments respond to sudden temperature drops. Researchers tracked enzyme activity related to energy production and found that fungi adapted to cold environments handle stress better than warmth-loving fungi. The type of enzyme activity and how old the fungal cells were both affected the response to cold, providing insights that could help predict how disease-causing fungi behave in cold conditions.

Insights into the structure, function, and impact of Candida albicans UPC2 gene on azole resistance; a mini-review

mycolabadmin

Candida albicans is a common fungal infection that doctors treat with azole medications, but the fungus is increasingly developing resistance to these drugs. Scientists have discovered that a gene called UPC2 plays a key role in this resistance by controlling the production of enzymes that help the fungus survive azole treatment. Understanding how UPC2 works could help develop new strategies to overcome drug-resistant fungal infections.

Polyamine Induction of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Genes in Fungi Is Mediated by Global Regulator LaeA and α-NAC Transcriptional Coactivator: Connection to Epigenetic Modification of Histones

mycolabadmin

Polyamines are natural compounds that act like chemical switches controlling how fungi produce useful medicines like antibiotics and statins. These molecules work by attaching to DNA and modifying histone proteins, which turns on or off the genes responsible for making pharmaceutical compounds. This research reveals that understanding polyamine control could help scientists increase antibiotic production and make plants more resistant to fungal diseases.

Expression pattern, subcellular localization of Aspergillus oryzae ergosterol synthases, and their effects on ergosterol and fatty acid metabolism

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied how Aspergillus oryzae fungi make ergosterol, a key ingredient in fungal cell membranes. They found that this process is much more complex in this mold than in baker’s yeast, with 49 genes involved. By selectively increasing expression of specific genes, they were able to boost ergosterol production by up to 2.3 times, which could have applications in producing fungal-derived medicines and improving fermented foods.

Schizophyllum commune

mycolabadmin

Schizophyllum commune, commonly known as the split-gill mushroom, is a fungus that grows on wood and was historically considered just a common environmental organism. However, scientists discovered in 1950 that this mushroom could actually infect human tissue, causing conditions like nail infections. This discovery was surprising because mushrooms were not previously known to infect living animals. Today, researchers recognize it as an emerging fungal pathogen that can pose health risks to humans.

The antifungal mechanism of EntV-derived peptides is associated with a reduction in extracellular vesicle release

mycolabadmin

Researchers discovered that a small peptide derived from a bacterium called EntV can fight Candida fungal infections by targeting specialized vesicles (tiny sacs) that fungi use to spread infections. Unlike traditional antifungal drugs that kill fungi, EntV works by blocking the release of these vesicles, reducing the fungus’s ability to infect and form protective biofilms. This new approach could lead to treatments that work against drug-resistant fungi without the toxicity issues of current antifungals.

Epidemiological profile of dermatophytes at the parasitology-mycology laboratory at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Oujda

mycolabadmin

This study examined fungal skin infections caused by dermatophytes in a Moroccan hospital over four years, analyzing 950 samples. The researchers found that nail infections (onychomycosis) were most common, particularly in people over 50 years old, while scalp infections mainly affected children. The fungus Trichophyton rubrum was responsible for most infections, though Microsporum canis increasingly caused scalp infections, likely due to increased pet ownership in Morocco. The study emphasizes the importance of proper laboratory testing to identify the specific fungus and choose appropriate treatment.

Discovery of novel targets for important human and plant fungal pathogens via an automated computational pipeline HitList

mycolabadmin

Scientists developed a computer program called HitList that searches through fungal genes to find new targets for antifungal medicines. The program identifies proteins that are unique to harmful fungi and missing from humans and plants, making them ideal drug targets. The study found several promising new protein targets that could lead to development of more effective antifungal drugs to treat both human fungal infections and crop diseases caused by fungi.

The role of Npt1 in regulating antifungal protein activity in filamentous fungi

mycolabadmin

Researchers discovered how antifungal proteins work against a dangerous fungus (Aspergillus flavus) that damages crops and produces toxins. They found that these proteins break down the fungal cell wall and then interact with an internal fungal protein called Ntp1. By understanding exactly which part of Ntp1 the antifungal proteins bind to, scientists can now develop better treatments to protect food crops from fungal diseases.

Disease: fungal infections