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WASHINGTON: Researchers have discovered a novel method of combating fungal infections. The key is to prevent fungi from producing fatty acids, which are the primary component of fats. These findings were published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology.
Antifungal drug resistance is increasing, and this new approach will be especially useful because it works in a novel way and affects a wide range of fungal species.
Most of us have heard of athlete’s foot, a relatively minor health problem that can be resolved with a quick trip to the pharmacy. Other fungal infections like Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus fungi are responsible for millions of deaths each year.
The researchers approach was to first screen the structurally-diverse RIKEN natural product depository. They were looking for something that would affect all four species, which would indicate that it might be effective against a broad range of fungi.
The screening identified several compounds that reduced fungal growth by at least fifty per cent in each of the four species, and after eliminating ones which were already known, the researchers were left with three new possibilities.
