Latest news with #AspergillusFlavus
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
Notorious Fungus Blamed for ‘Mummy's Curse' Is Now a Promising Cancer Treatment
In the 1920s, a number of workers on the excavation team that uncovered King Tutankhamun's tomb met untimely deaths. Five decades later, 10 out of 12 scientists died after entering the tomb of the 15th-century Polish King Casimir IV. In both cases, researchers suggested that fungal spores could have played a role in the mysterious deaths, specifically identifying the fungus Aspergillus flavus within the Polish burial. A. flavus is now making a comeback, but not as a reawakened killer from ancient tombs, but instead as a surprisingly effective cancer-fighting compound. By modifying a newly identified molecule found in the fungus, the researchers created a compound that performed as effectively against leukemia cells as FDA-approved drugs. The molecules at the center of these anti-cancer properties, known as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs, are a diverse group of natural molecules assembled by the ribosome (which makes proteins) and later modified by enzymes. They conduct many different biological activities, some of which are already known for their anti-cancer properties. To date, researchers have identified only a handful of RiPPs in fungi—which is significantly less than the thousands previously discovered in bacteria. Part of the problem is that scientists didn't fully understand how fungi create RiPPs. 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,' Qiuyue Nie, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, said in a university statement. 'But that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.' Genetic analysis suggested that a specific A. flavus protein could be a source of fungal RiPPs. Sure enough, when Nie and her colleagues turned off the genes responsible for said protein, RiPPs' chemical markers also vanished. Using this approach, the team discovered four different A. flavus RiPPs with a previously undocumented structure of interlocking rings. After researchers purified these RiPPs, which they named asperigimycins, two of the four unique molecules performed well against human leukemia cells without further modifications. When mixed with a lipid (a fatty molecule), a separate RiPPs variant performed as well as cytarabine and daunorubicin, both of which are long-established FDA-approved leukemia drugs. To investigate this lipid's enhancement properties, the researchers went back to turning genes off and on. In this way, they identified a gene associated with the process that lets enough asperigimycins into the cancer cells. 'This gene acts like a gateway,' said Nie, the first author of the study published Monday in Nature Chemical Biology. 'It doesn't just help asperigimycins get into cells, it may also enable other 'cyclic peptides' to do the same.' Cyclic peptides are other chemicals with known medicinal properties. 'Knowing that lipids can affect how this gene transports chemicals into cells gives us another tool for drug development,' Nie added. The researchers also discovered that asperigimycins might disrupt the process of cell division—which is good news for cancer treatment, since cancer consists of uncontrolled cell division. Furthermore, the compounds had little to no effect on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells, as well as on a number of bacteria and fungi. While this might sound like a negative thing, asperigimycins' potentially targeted impact would be an important characteristic for future medications. Moving forward, the researchers aim to test asperigimycins in animal trials. The recent study investigates a promising new cancer therapy, but it also paves the way for future research into fungal medicines. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' said Sherry Gao, senior author of the study and an associate professor also in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 'It's up to us to uncover its secrets.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Fungus that may have caused 'King Tut's curse' shows promise in treating cancer
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A toxic fungus, once thought to have caused fatal lung infections in tomb explorers, may hold the key to powerful new cancer treatments, new research suggests. Within months of the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922, the earl who had financed the excavation and visited the "wonderful" burial site died, leading many to believe the mummy had cursed those who entered the tomb. In the 1970s, 10 of the 12 archaeologists excavating the 15th-century crypt of King Casimir IV in Poland also met a similar fate. Analysis of Casimir's tomb revealed the presence of a fungus called Aspergillus flavus, the toxins of which are known to cause a deadly lung infection. Now, the same fungus has shown promise as a treatment for leukaemia, according to a new study published in Nature Chemical Biology. The researcher team identified and engineered a class of molecules within the fungus, called asperigimycins, that kill leukemia cells in a laboratory setting. "This is nature's irony at its finest," study senior author Sherry Gao, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. "The same fungus once feared for bringing death may now help save lives." Aspergillus flavus produces spores that are able to lie dormant for centuries — including inside sealed tombs. When disturbed, the fungus can cause deadly respiratory infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. Related: College student discovers psychedelic fungus that eluded LSD inventor In their new study, the scientists examined the unique chemical compounds produced by the fungus and discovered a class of natural compounds called RiPPs (ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides). These molecules are difficult to isolate and rarely seen in fungi, but they hold therapeutic promise due to their complex structures and bioactivity. This means they have intricate, unique shapes that can interact with biological systems in powerful ways, such as killing cancer cells. "We found four novel asperigimycins with an unusual interlocking ring structure," lead author Qiuyue Nie, a researcher in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, said in the statement. "Two of them had strong anti-leukemia properties even without modification." To enhance the drugs' effectiveness, the researchers attached lipid molecules similar to those found in royal jelly, the nutrient-rich substance that sustains queen bees. This enabled the drugs to enter cancer cells more efficiently, because lipids help drugs cross cellular membranes, which are made largely of fats themselves. Further analysis revealed how a gene called SLC46A3 acts as a kind of molecular gateway, helping the drug escape cellular compartments and target leukemia cells directly. This discovery could aid in the delivery of other promising but hard-to-administer drugs in the future. RELATED STORIES —'The most critically harmful fungi to humans': How the rise of C. auris was inevitable —Mysterious artifacts from King Tut's tomb might have been used in 'awakening Osiris' ritual —Single gene may help explain the plague's persistence throughout human history Unlike broad-spectrum chemotherapy agents that can damage healthy cells, asperigimycins appear to specifically disrupt leukemia cell division without affecting healthy tissues. Early tests also suggest the compounds have minimal effects on breast, liver, and lung cancer cells. According to the researchers, this selectivity is important for minimizing unwanted side effects. In addition to asperigimycins, the team believe similar life-saving compounds may be hidden in other fungal species. The team are planning to test asperigimycins in animal models, with the eventual goal of launching human clinical trials. And by scanning fungal genomes and exploring more strains of Aspergillus, they hope to unlock new treatments. "The ancient world is still offering us tools for modern medicine," said Gao. "The tombs were feared for their curses, but they may become a wellspring of cures."
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers turn a toxic fungus into cancer-fighting drug
(NewsNation) — Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound after isolating a new class of molecules from it. Aspergillus flavus is a toxic crop fungus that has been linked to deaths in the excavation of ancient tombs. It was recently used in a test against leukemia cells and resulted in those cells being killed. RFK Jr. defends cuts, health policy in House hearing 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' said Dr. Sherry Gao, senior author of the study. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' The aspergillus flavus, named for its yellow spores, has been known as a microbial villain for years. A series of deaths following the excavation of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 started fueling rumors of a 'pharaoh's curse.' The discovery of King Casimir IV's tomb in Poland in 1973 led to the deaths of 10 scientists who entered it. The investigations of both tombs revealed they contained the deadly fungus. Researchers say the next step is to test those compounds in animals with the hope of one day moving to human clinical trials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ancient ‘pharaoh's curse' could be used to fight cancer: ‘It's up to us to uncover its secrets'
From curses to cures — an ancient hex might just be modern science's secret to battling leukemia. In the 1920s, archaeologists blamed a string of bizarre deaths following the excavation of King Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt on the 'pharaoh's curse.' Decades later, in the 1970s, it happened again when a group of scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland. Out of a team of 12, 10 died within weeks. They didn't know it then, but the tomb contained Aspergillus flavus, a fungus that can cause lung infections. Now, University of Pennsylvania researchers have modified this microbial villain and tapped into its potential as a biomedical hero. Their new study — published this week in the journal Nature Chemical Biology — revealed that Aspergillus flavus could transform into a cancer-fighting agent that rivals traditional medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Their work highlights the ability to rebrand a historically toxic substance into a groundbreaking drug. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' Sherry Gao, an associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering and bioengineering, said in a statement, referring to the world's first successful antibiotic. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found,' she added. First study author Qiuyue Nie called it an 'unexplored region with tremendous potential.' Gao's group isolated and purified four RiPPs from Aspergillus flavus, with these molecules showing killer results against leukemia cells. But there are obstacles to greater success. 'Purifying these chemicals is difficult,' Nie said. And while scientists have identified thousands of RiPPs in bacteria, far fewer have been found in fungi. This might be in part because researchers used to confuse them with a different class of molecules and didn't fully understand how fungi produced them. 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,' Nie noted. 'But that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity,' she continued. The new research confirms that much of our environment and nature are not yet fully understood — and this exploration could benefit contemporary medicine. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' Gao said. 'It's up to us to uncover its secrets.'
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
How ‘Pharaoh's curse' may help fight CANCER after leukaemia-battling chemical found in fungus linked to King Tut deaths
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". 3 3 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.
