Latest news with #Pharaoh'sCurse
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
How ‘Pharaoh's curse' may help fight CANCER after leukaemia-battling chemical found in fungus linked to King Tut deaths
Researchers say it could be the start of a string of new medical discoveries PHARAOH'S GIFT How 'Pharaoh's curse' may help fight CANCER after leukaemia-battling chemical found in fungus linked to King Tut deaths Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TOXIC fungus linked to the deaths of researchers who opened King Tutankhamun's tomb may help fight cancer. The poisonous fungus found growing inside the ancient tombs is believed to have struck down a team of 10 archaeologists in a theory known as "Pharaoh's Curse". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 King Tut's tomb was teaming with a fungus believed to have killed a group of researchers Credit: PA:Press Association 3 The poisonous fungus has been found to contain properties that could tackle the division of cancer cells 3 Ingesting yellow spores of the fungus has been linked to lung disease Credit: PA:Press Association The fungus crop - known as Aspergillus flavus - is believed to have been ingested by the researchers who then developed lung infections and died. But now, in a miraculous turn of events, scientists think the toxic fungus could contain elements needed to attack blood cancer. The fungus contains a "promising" protein that, when purified, could help battle leukaemia cells, they said. According to their research, when combined with human cells, the protein is potent enough to disrupt the division of cancer cells. Cancer is when abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled way. It starts when gene changes make one cell or a few cells begin to grow and multiply too much. Sherry Gao, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, enthused that this could be the start of "many more medicines derived from natural products". She told The Times: "Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found". She added: "Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy. It's up to us to uncover its secrets. "As engineers, we're excited to keep exploring, learning from nature and using that knowledge to design better solutions.' Tourists gather around Tutankhamun's 'cursed' body This comes as researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, both in the US, developed a new type of jab to fight pancreatic cancer. The vaccine uses tiny particles called nanoparticles to train the body's immune system to find and kill 'bad' cancer cells. In early tests with animals and lab models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, more than half of the treated patients were completely cancer-free months after getting the vaccine. The vaccine also encourages the body to create its own T cells, immune fighters specially trained to attack cancer, while building up 'immune memory' for longer-term protection. Meanwhile, researchers in South Korea said they were able to revert cancerous cells back to a healthier stage. The team believe they can prevent the progression by exploiting the moment before normal cells irreversibly transform into diseased cells. Current cancer treatments focus on removing or destroying cancer cells through surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. But the groundbreaking discovery could let cancer patients regain their healthy cells. The scientists published their findings in the journal Advanced Science. Co-author of the new research Kwang-Hyun Cho is a professor of biology at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He said: "This study has revealed in detail, at the genetic network level, what changes occur within cells behind the process of cancer development, which has been considered a mystery until now.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Curse' which killed explorers entering Egyptian tombs could fight cancer
When people died after entering the ancient pyramids for the first time it was blamed on a Pharaoh's Curse or Mummy's Revenge The "Pharaoh's Curse" which killed archaeologists, scientists and explorers who broke into the tombs of ancient kings in Egypt has been transformed into an anti-cancer drug. After archaeologists opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in the 1920s, a series of untimely deaths among the excavation team fuelled rumours of a "pharaoh's curse". A dozen scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland In the 1970s but, within weeks, 10 of them died. Decades later, doctors theorised that fungal spores, dormant for millennia, could have played a role. Scientists isolated a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus linked to infamous deaths following the excavations of ancient tombs. Later investigations revealed the tomb contained A. flavus, whose toxins can lead to lung infections, especially in people with compromised immune systems. Now, that same fungus is the unlikely source of a promising new cancer therapy. American scientists modified the chemicals they isolated from A. flavus and tested them against leukaemia cells. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, showed a "promising" cancer-killing compound that rivals already-approved drugs - and opens new frontiers for fungal medicines. Study senior author Professor Sherry Gao, of the University of Pennsylvania, said: 'Fungi gave us penicillin. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' She explained that the therapy in question is a class of ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs. The name refers to how the compound is produced - by the ribosome, a tiny cellular structure that makes proteins - and the fact that it is modified later to enhance its cancer-killing properties. Study first author Dr Qiuyue Nie said: 'Purifying these chemicals is difficult." She says that while thousands of RiPPs have been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been found in fungi. Dr Nie said that is because researchers previously misidentified fungal RiPPs as non-ribosomal peptides and had little understanding of how fungi created the molecules. She added: 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated. But that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.' To find more fungal RiPPs, the research team first scanned a dozen strains of Aspergillus, which previous research suggested might contain more of the chemicals. By comparing chemicals produced by these strains with known RiPP building blocks, the researchers identified A. flavus as a "promising" candidate for further study. Genetic analysis pointed to a particular protein in A. flavus as a source of fungal RiPPs. When the researchers turned the genes that create that protein off, the chemical markers indicating the presence of RiPPs also disappeared. They said the new approach - combining metabolic and genetic information - not only pinpointed the source of fungal RiPPs in A. flavus, but could also be used to find more fungal RiPPs in the future. Further experiments suggested that asperigimycins likely disrupt the process of cell division. Prof Gao said: 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably. These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' She says the compounds had little to no effect on breast, liver or lung cancer cells - or a range of bacteria and fungi - suggesting that asperigimycins' disruptive effects are specific to certain types of cells, a critical feature for any future medication. As well as showing the medical potential of asperigimycins, the research team also identified similar clusters of genes in other fungi, suggesting that more fungal RiPPS remain to be discovered. Dr Nie said: 'Even though only a few have been found, almost all of them have strong bioactivity. This is an unexplored region with tremendous potential.' The researchers say the next step is to test asperigimycins in animal models, with the hope of one day moving to human clinical trials. Prof Gao added: 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy. It's up to us to uncover its secrets. As engineers, we're excited to keep exploring, learning from nature and using that knowledge to design better solutions.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Deadly ‘Pharaoh's Curse' Fungus may hold key to beating cancer
Imagine an ancient curse holding the key to a much-coveted cure! When Tutankhamun's tomb was cracked open in 1922, the world was mesmerized and somewhat terrified. Tales of the 'Pharaoh's Curse' swiftly followed: mysterious illnesses, sudden deaths, and a malevolent ancient hex. But modern science has unearthed a far more compelling explanation: a deadly fungus lurking in those sealed chambers, not dark magic. The lurking menace: Fungi like Aspergillus flavus, which thrive in hermetically sealed, humid environments, were dormant in King Tut's tomb for centuries. Once the tomb was opened, spores could disperse into the air, triggering respiratory infections, particularly in vulnerable individuals. Indeed, researchers hypothesize that Lord Carnarvon's pneumonia and death may have been tied to invasive aspergillosis acquired shortly after exposure to these ancient molds. But what began as a harrowing cautionary tale has now become a beacon of hope. That very fungal kingdom, once an incidental actor in macabre legends, is now a treasure trove for anticancer compounds. How? A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has discovered that the same notorious fungus, Aspergillus flavus (the "pharaoh's curse fungus"), may hold the key to fighting cancer. What does the new discovery say? Despite its dark history, the recent research, published recently in the journal Nature Chemical Biology , reveals that the fungus, Aspergillus flavus, contains a special compound capable of targeting cancer cells – a promising breakthrough in the realm of cancer treatment! The research team isolated a new group of molecules from this fascinating fungus and, after modifying them, tested their effects on leukaemia cells. To their surprise, they found some remarkable results. By exploring various strains of Aspergillus flavus, they uncovered that some might contain even more of these powerful compounds. They managed to purify four different peptides, known as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), which they named asperigimycins. These compounds demonstrated impressive potential against leukaemia cells, even without any modifications. It turns out that asperigimycins work by disrupting the way cancer cells divide – an exciting mechanism that could lead to new treatments! As per Sherry Gao, a key researcher and Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, "Fungi gave us penicillin, and these results show that there are still many more medicines to discover from nature." Dr. Gao added that these compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are crucial for cell division, thus halting the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. From mythological curse to medicinal cure The journey of the Pharaoh's Curse fungus – from deathly spores haunting tombs to life-saving cancer therapies – is nothing short of extraordinary. What began as superstitious fear has, through the lens of science, come full circle to become a source of healing. The narrative arc – from the 'Pharaoh's Curse' mythos to molecular oncology – highlights humanity's evolving relationship with the natural world. It reminds us that nature's mysteries, even the ominous ones, can inspire medical miracles. Fungi that once triggered fear are now seen as a pharmacopeia waiting to be unlocked. As phase II clinical trials for fungal‑derived drugs like NUC‑7738 advance, the science and medical community stand on the brink of novel, eco-friendly cancer therapies. These efforts honor ancient lore while forging a hopeful, evidence-based future. After all, who knew a fungus with such a fierce reputation could also be a beacon of hope in the fight against cancer! Cancer immunotherapy may also treat certain autoimmune diseases, claims study One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
