Research Keyword: drug resistance

John Perfect Shares Insights on Infectious Diseases, Antifungal Therapy, and Drug Resistance

Dr. John Perfect shares decades of experience treating fungal infections and developing antifungal medications. He discusses how treatments have evolved from highly toxic drugs to more effective options, but notes that fungal infections remain challenging, especially when patients develop resistance or have serious underlying diseases. He emphasizes the importance of combining drugs with immune therapies and shorter, more potent treatments rather than lengthy medication courses. Despite challenges, Dr. Perfect is optimistic about the future of medicine and encourages young scientists to pursue careers in this field.

Read More »

Comparative Study and Transcriptomic Analysis on the Antifungal Mechanism of Ag Nanoparticles and Nanowires Against Trichosporon asahii

Researchers compared two types of tiny silver particles (nanoparticles and nanowires) as potential treatments for a dangerous fungal infection caused by Trichosporon asahii. Silver nanowires were found to be more effective than nanoparticles at killing the fungus by damaging its cell membranes and disrupting its energy production. The study identified 15 key genes involved in how silver nanowires attack the fungus, suggesting these nanomaterials could become useful alternatives to traditional antifungal drugs.

Read More »

Staurosporine as an Antifungal Agent

Staurosporine is a natural compound from soil bacteria that can kill fungal infections. While originally known for its anti-cancer properties, scientists have recently rediscovered its strong antifungal activity, especially against dangerous drug-resistant fungi. The challenge is that it also damages human cells, but researchers are developing improved versions and combination treatments to make it safer and more effective.

Read More »

Mycochemistry, antioxidant activity and anticancer potentiality of ethyl acetate extract of Daldinia eschscholtzii against A549 lung cancer cell line

Researchers studied a wild fungus called Daldinia eschscholtzii to see if it could fight lung cancer. They found that an extract from this fungus contained 28 different beneficial compounds and was effective at killing cancer cells by triggering a process called apoptosis (programmed cell death). The treatment also reduced the cancer cells’ ability to spread, and it appeared safe for normal, healthy cells. Several compounds in the extract showed promise as potential anti-cancer drugs.

Read More »

Antifungal efficacy of caffeic acid and nano-caffeic acid particles against candidiasis: an in vitro study

Researchers developed a nano-particle form of caffeic acid, a natural compound found in coffee and tea, to treat oral yeast infections (candidiasis). The nano-version showed better antifungal activity than regular caffeic acid, though not as strong as prescription antifungal drugs. Since it comes from plants with fewer side effects, it could offer an alternative treatment option for patients with candidiasis.

Read More »

The In vitro Effect of Nanoliposomal Amphotericin B Against Rhizopus arrhizus Isolated From COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis Patients

Scientists tested a new nano-formulation of the antifungal drug amphotericin B against a dangerous fungus (Rhizopus arrhizus) that infected COVID-19 patients with mucormycosis. The nanoliposomal version of the drug worked much better than regular amphotericin B and other antifungal medications currently used, showing much lower concentrations needed to kill the fungus. This research suggests the new nano-formulation could be a more effective treatment option for patients with this serious COVID-19 related fungal infection.

Read More »

Molecular epidemiology, diversity, and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical and environmental mucorales: a five-year multicenter study in Iran (2018–2023)

This research examined dangerous mold infections (Mucormycosis) that became more common after COVID-19. Scientists identified the types of molds causing these infections in Iran by testing 116 patient samples and 65 soil samples from across the country. They tested these molds against 13 different antifungal medications to find which drugs work best. The results showed that amphotericin B and posaconazole were the most effective medications, and patient samples were more susceptible to these drugs than environmental soil samples.

Read More »

Things you wanted to know about fungal extracellular vesicles (but were afraid to ask)

Fungal extracellular vesicles are tiny particles released by fungal cells that play important roles in how fungi cause disease and how our immune system responds. These particles can either help fight infections or make them worse depending on the type of fungus and conditions involved. Scientists are discovering that these vesicles could potentially be used as vaccines and may explain why some antifungal drugs stop working.

Read More »

In silico screening and molecular dynamics analysis of natural DHPS enzyme inhibitors targeting Acinetobacter baumannii

Researchers used computer modeling to find natural compounds from plants and mushrooms that can inhibit a key bacterial enzyme (DHPS) in dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii. They tested thousands of natural molecules and identified two promising candidates that bind strongly to this enzyme and prevent bacteria from producing folic acid, which they need to survive. The study suggests these natural compounds could potentially be developed into new antibiotics to fight infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.

Read More »

Graphene nanomaterials: A new frontier in preventing respiratory fungal infections

Graphene nanomaterials, especially nano-graphene oxide, show promise as new treatments for serious lung fungal infections that particularly threaten people with weakened immune systems. These tiny materials work by generating damaging reactive oxygen species that kill fungal cells and prevent biofilm formation. Unlike traditional antifungal drugs, nano-graphene oxide can be delivered directly to infected lung tissue via inhalation, delivering medicine exactly where needed while reducing harmful side effects throughout the body.

Read More »
Scroll to Top