Latest news with #SherryGao
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Fungus dubbed ‘mummy's curse' could make a powerful cancer drug, new study reveals
Researchers believe that a fungus thought to be found in ancient tombs may provide a valuable new tool in the fight against cancer. The fungus Aspergillus flavus, sometimes dubbed the 'mummy's curse' for its potential link to the deaths of archaeologists who excavated famous tombs like that of King Tutankhamen in Egypt, shows promise in stopping cancers such as leukemia, according to a new study published Monday in Nature Chemical Biology from a team of scientists led by the University of Pennsylvania. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' Sherry Gao, associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering and bioengineering at Penn, a senior author on the study, said in a statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Over the course of their research, the scientists isolated and purified a new class of molecules derived from the fungus, asperigimycins, and tested them against common cancers in breast, liver, and lung cells. Even with no modification, two of the four asperigimycins in the experiment had 'potent' effects against leukemia cells, according to the university. Another variation, to which scientists added a fatty lipid molecule, performed as well as the longstanding Food and Drug Administration-approved leukemia drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin, the university added. Researchers believe these molecules, created inside the fungus's cellular machinery then modified by the study's authors, block some of the mechanisms of cell division, halting the unchecked cell growth that causes cancer. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' Gao added in the statement. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' Aspergillus flavus, which is commonly found in soil, can lead to lung infections in humans, especially among those with compromised immune systems, and infects a variety of agricultural crops. As a result, it is one of the most frequently isolated mold species in agriculture and medicine, according to Popular Science. The Penn team, which also included researchers from Rice University, the University of Pittsburg, the University of Texas, Washington University of St. Louis, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Porto, said its research was unique because it focused on a class of peptides more commonly studied in bacteria, rather than fungus. The research, which scientists hope to continue in animal models and potential human trials down the road, was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical research hub from which the Trump administration hopes to cut $18 billion in funding.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Fungus dubbed ‘mummy's curse' could make a powerful cancer drug, new study reveals
Researchers believe that a fungus thought to be found in ancient tombs may provide a valuable new tool in the fight against cancer. The fungus Aspergillus flavus, sometimes dubbed the 'mummy's curse' for its potential link to the deaths of archaeologists who excavated famous tombs like that of King Tutankhamen in Egypt, shows promise in stopping cancers such as leukemia, according to a new study published Monday in Nature Chemical Biology from a team of scientists led by the University of Pennsylvania. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' Sherry Gao, associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering and bioengineering at Penn, a senior author on the study, said in a statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Over the course of their research, the scientists isolated and purified a new class of molecules derived from the fungus, asperigimycins, and tested them against common cancers in breast, liver, and lung cells. Even with no modification, two of the four asperigimycins in the experiment had 'potent' effects against leukemia cells, according to the university. Another variation, to which scientists added a fatty lipid molecule, performed as well as the longstanding Food and Drug Administration-approved leukemia drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin, the university added. Researchers believe these molecules, created inside the fungus's cellular machinery then modified by the study's authors, block some of the mechanisms of cell division, halting the unchecked cell growth that causes cancer. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' Gao added in the statement. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' Aspergillus flavus, which is commonly found in soil, can lead to lung infections in humans, especially among those with compromised immune systems, and infects a variety of agricultural crops. As a result, it is one of the most frequently isolated mold species in agriculture and medicine, according to Popular Science. The Penn team, which also included researchers from Rice University, the University of Pittsburg, the University of Texas, Washington University of St. Louis, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Porto, said its research was unique because it focused on a class of peptides more commonly studied in bacteria, rather than fungus. The research, which scientists hope to continue in animal models and potential human trials down the road, was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical research hub from which the Trump administration hopes to cut $18 billion in funding.
The Independent
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Fungus dubbed ‘mummy's curse' could make a powerful cancer drug, new study reveals
Researchers believe that a fungus thought to be found in ancient tombs may provide a valuable new tool in the fight against cancer. The fungus Aspergillus flavus, sometimes dubbed the 'mummy's curse' for its potential link to the deaths of archaeologists who excavated famous tombs like that of King Tutankhamen in Egypt, shows promise in stopping cancers such as leukemia, according to a new study published Monday in Nature Chemical Biology from a team of scientists led by the University of Pennsylvania. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' Sherry Gao, associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering and bioengineering at Penn, a senior author on the study, said in a statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Over the course of their research, the scientists isolated and purified a new class of molecules derived from the fungus, asperigimycins, and tested them against common cancers in breast, liver, and lung cells. Even with no modification, two of the four asperigimycins in the experiment had 'potent' effects against leukemia cells, according to the university. Another variation, to which scientists added a fatty lipid molecule, performed as well as the longstanding Food and Drug Administration-approved leukemia drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin, the university added. Researchers believe these molecules, created inside the fungus's cellular machinery then modified by the study's authors, block some of the mechanisms of cell division, halting the unchecked cell growth that causes cancer. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' Gao added in the statement. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' Aspergillus flavus, which is commonly found in soil, can lead to lung infections in humans, especially among those with compromised immune systems, and infects a variety of agricultural crops. As a result, it is one of the most frequently isolated mold species in agriculture and medicine, according to Popular Science. The Penn team, which also included researchers from Rice University, the University of Pittsburg, the University of Texas, Washington University of St. Louis, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Porto, said its research was unique because it focused on a class of peptides more commonly studied in bacteria, rather than fungus. The research, which scientists hope to continue in animal models and potential human trials down the road, was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical research hub from which the Trump administration hopes to cut $18 billion in funding.
NDTV
a day ago
- Health
- NDTV
Deadly "Pharaoh's Curse" Fungus Can Help Fight Cancer, New Study Finds
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania said that a deadly fungus can help in fighting cancer. Aspergillus flavus, which has been linked to many deaths during the excavations of ancient tombs, is often called "pharaoh's curse fungus". The latest findings published on June 23 in the journal Nature Chemical Biology revealed that it contains a cancer-killing compound, a development that can provide new strides in cancer treatment. The researchers isolated a new class of molecules from the fungus and modified the chemicals to test them against leukaemia cells, and were surprised by the result. The researchers studied many strains of Aspergillus flavus and found that they might contain more of the chemicals. They purified four different ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and found potent cancer-fighting molecules, which they named asperigimycins. The asperigimycins showed strong medical potential against leukaemia cells, even with no modification. The researchers discovered that asperigimycins seem to work by disrupting the process of cancer cell division. "Fungi gave us penicillin," says Sherry Gao, Presidential Penn Compact Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) and in Bioengineering (BE) and senior author of the paper "These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found," Gao added. "Cancer cells divide uncontrollably. These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division," added Dr Gao. "Pharaoh's curse fungus" In the 1970s, a dozen scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland for excavations. Ten of the researchers lost their lives within only a few weeks. After the probe, it was revealed that the tomb contained the fungus A. flavus. The fungus grows on cereals, usually kept in the tombs as offerings. Hence, it was also linked to the deaths of people who entered tombs, including Tutankhamun in 1923, as studies later discovered that Aspergillus flavus become active once it gets disturbed; otherwise, it can remain dormant for centuries.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Deadly ‘pharaoh's curse fungus' could be used to fight cancer
A deadly fungus linked to deaths in archeologists excavating ancient tombs has been turned into a new cancer-fighting compound. A team at the University of Pennsylvania modified some of the chemicals in the toxic crop fungus Aspergillus flavus, aka the 'pharaohs' curse' fungus, and created a new compound that kills leukemia cells. The findings are detailed in a study published June 23 in the journal Nature Chemical Biology and are an important step towards discovering new fungal medicines for cancer. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' said Sherry Gao, a study co-author and UPenn chemical and biomolecular engineer, said in a statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Aspergillus flavus is one of the most frequently isolated mold species in both agriculture and medicine. It is commonly found in soil and can infect a broad range of important agricultural crops. The toxins in this fungus can lead to lung infections, especially in those with compromised immune systems. It is named for its dangerous yellow spores and has been considered a microbial villain for at least a century. In the 1920s, after a team of archaeologists opened King Tutankhamun's tomb near Luxor, Egypt, a series of untimely deaths occurred among the excavation team. Rumors swirled of some kind of pharoah's curse. Doctors later theorized that fungal spores that had been dormant for thousands of years might have played a role in the deaths. During excavations In the 1970s, a dozen scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland. Within only a few weeks, 10 of the researchers died. Investigations later revealed the tomb contained the fungus A. flavus. The same deadly fungus is now being looked at as a potential cancer treatment. The therapy detailed in this new study is a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs. The name 'RiPP' refers to how the compound is produced. It starts in the ribosome–a small cellular structure that makes proteins–and is later modified by peptides or intervention in the lab. In this case, the RiPP is altered to enhance its cancer-killing properties. 'Purifying these chemicals is difficult,' said study co-author and UPenn doctoral fellow Qiuyue Nie. While thousands of RiPPs have previously been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been discovered in fungi. One reason for fewer fungal RiPP finds is because past researchers likely misidentified fungal RiPPs as non-ribosomal peptides and did not quite understand how fungi created the molecules. 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,' adds Nie. 'But that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.' [ Related: College student discovers mysterious fungus that eluded LSD's inventor. ] To find more fungal RiPPs, the team first scanned a dozen strains of different Aspergillus fungi. By comparing the chemicals produced by these strains with known RiPP building blocks, the team identified A. flavus as a promising candidate for additional study. The genetic analysis pointed to a particular protein in A. flavus as a source of fungal RiPPs. When the team turned off the genes that create that protein, the chemical markers that indicated the presence of these RiPPs also vanished. Combining both metabolic and genetic information pinpointed the source of the useful fungal RiPPs in A. flavus and could be used to find other fungal RiPPs in the future. The team then purified four different RiPPs. They found that the molecules all shared a unique structure of interlocking rings. The researchers named these previously undescribed molecules after the fungus in which they were found: asperigimycins. Even without genetic modifications, the asperigimycins demonstrated medical potential when mixed together with human cancer cells. Two out of the four variants had potent effects against leukemia cells. The researchers added a fatty molecule called a lipid to another variant and found that it performed as well as cytarabine and daunorubicin, two FDA-approved drugs that have been used to treat leukemia for decades. Next, the team wanted to understand why the lipids enhanced asperigimycins' potency. To do this, the researchers selectively turned genes on and off in the leukemia cells. One gene (SLC46A3), proved critical in allowing asperigimycins to enter leukemia cells in the right amount. That SLC46A3 gene helps materials exit lysosomes, or tiny sacs that collect foreign materials entering human cells. 'This gene acts like a gateway,' said Nie. 'It doesn't just help asperigimycins get into cells, it may also enable other 'cyclic peptides' to do the same.' Those chemicals have medicinal properties just like asperigimycins. Nearly 24 cyclic peptides have received clinical approval since 2000 to treat diseases from cancer and lupus, but many of them need modification in order to enter cells in sufficient quantities. 'Knowing that lipids can affect how this gene transports chemicals into cells gives us another tool for drug development,' said Nie. Further experimentation showed that asperigimycins likely disrupt the process of cell division. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' said Gao. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' The compounds had little to no effect on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells or on a range of bacteria and fungi. According to the team, this suggests that asperigimycins' disruptive effects are specific to certain types of cells, which is a critical feature for any future medication. In addition to showing that asperigimycins do have some future medical potential, the team pinpointed similar clusters of genes in other fungi. This means even more fungal RiPPS could be out there. 'Even though only a few have been found, almost all of them have strong bioactivity,' says Nie. 'This is an unexplored region with tremendous potential.' The next step towards potentially becoming a therapeutic, asperigimycins need to be tested in animal models, with the hope of one day moving into regulated human clinical trials. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' says Gao. '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.'
