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A potentially deadly fungus known as “Pharaoh’s curse” could offer an unexpected path to Combat cancerAccording to recent research.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have changed mushroom molecules – which is officially called Aspergillus Flavus – to create a new compound and improve its properties of cancer killers.
“The mushrooms have given us penicillin,” said Dr. Xue (Sherry) Gao, an associate professor in Upenn and the study leader, in a press release. “These results show that many More drugs derived from natural products remain to be found. “”
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The results were published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
Aspergillus Flavus is found in decomposing leaves and compost, as well as on trees, plants and certain crops, according to Mayo Clinic.
A sample of Aspergillus flavus cultivated in the Gao laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania. (Beautiful deer / upenn)
Although the fungus does not put in danger in good health, it can cause respiratory problems For those who have weakened immune systems or take certain drugs.
Some of the most serious complications of the fungus may include bleeding in the lungs and fatal infections in the brain, the heart and the kidneys, Mayo Clinic said.
History of “curse”
After Archaeologists have opened The tomb of the King Tut in the 1920s, several members of the excavation team died suddenly, fueling the rumors of a “curse” on those who dared to interfere with the rest of the pharaoh, according to the press release from Upenn.
After the archaeologists opened the tomb of King Tut in the 1920s, members of the excavation team died suddenly, fueling the rumors of a “curse” on those who disturbed the rest of the pharaoh. (Historica Graphica Collection / Heritage Images / Images Getty)
Decades later, the doctors hypothesized that the fungal spores, which have been dormant for thousands of years, could have infacted the team.
In the 1970s, it happened again, the university said.
A dozen scientists entered another grave, this time in Poland – and 10 died in a few weeks. Subsequent investigations would have revealed the presence of Aspergillus flavus in the grave.
Cancer control potential
Now, the same fungus linked to King Tut’s grave could have the ability to fight leukemia in a new form of Cancer therapy.
“There are a variety of compounds capable of being produced by mushrooms,” Gao told Fox News Digital.
These compounds can be toxic to different cells, she noted, according to the “biological management that we are capable of alleviating”.
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The study aimed at finding a specific type of compound – synthesized ribosomally and post -transduction modified peptides, or “ripps” – in Aspergillus flavus, which previously revealed to be a good source.
When this compound is able to enter cancer cells, Gao said, it may be able to stop their growth.
“The cancer cells are divided uncontrollable,” Gao said in the press release. “These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.”
The first author Qiuyue Nie and the co -author Maria Zotova, from left to left, purify the fungus samples in the Upenn laboratory. (Beautiful deer / upenn)
When mixed with human cancer cells, two variants of molecules in these Ripp have had powerful effects against leukemia cells, the researchers revealed.
Another variant has carried out as well as two drugs approved by the FDA which have been used for decades to treat leukemia (cytarabine and daunorubicin).
Potential limitations
Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, MD, a medical oncologist and Consultant in Cancer against Cancer based in New York, warned that this study, which was carried out on cell cultures, is still in the early stages.
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“It is still far from applicable to use humans with leukemia“, Troso-Sandoval, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Speaking of Ripps, the doctor told Fox News Digital: “What they are referring [in the study] is essentially a rare type of bioactive molecule that they have isolated from this fungus. “”
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There are several subtypes of leukemia, Troso-Sandoval underlined, including acute and chronic forms.
“Treatment may not work on [another] Type of leukemia, “she noted. Additional tests are necessary to determine which subtypes can contain the active molecule.
Acute myeloid leukemia (LMA) is a type of blood cancer. Once the compound has identified is capable of entering cancer cells, it may be able to stop their uncontrolled growth, the researchers said. (Istock)
The compound explored in the study had little or no effect on the breast, the liver or lung cancer cells, noted the researchers.
This suggests that its disruptive effects only work on certain types of cells, which will be significant when Drug development.
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For the future, researchers plan to test the potential of fungi in animal models and, in the end, human trials.
Gao told Fox News Digital that she was “enthusiastic about what nature can create and how it can benefit our society”.
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The study received the support of the National Institutes of Health, from the University of Pennsylvania, the Welch Foundation, of the Houston Area Molecular Biophysics Program, from Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the National Science Foundation.
