Latest news with #SherryGao
Scoop
12-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Toxic Fungus Enlisted In Fight Against Leukemia
Researchers say they have been able to modify toxic fungus cells to fight cancer - specifically, leukaemia. The same mould that has been linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs and found on old bread has the capability of fight leukemia cells. The fungus is known as aspergillus flavus fungus. Associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr Sherry Gao, told Saturday Morning the discovery was significant. Gao said they found a new class of compound which was produced by the fungus. But how does the compound fight cancer? "We isolated and define the chemical structure of those new compounds," Gao said. "By making some small chemical tweaks we actually modified the structure a bit, we've found those modified compounds can enter leukaemia cells very selectively. "Once it's entered the cell, its able to prevent cell division - that's why it could possibly lead to a cure for leukaemia." This was not the first fungus that has led to a breakthrough in medicine. Penicillin was also created using a fungus. Gao said her lab was also experimenting with other fungi, aiming to kill other cancer cell lines.
RNZ News
12-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Toxic fungus enlisted in fight against leukemia
Close-up illustration of Aspergillus flavus fungus. Photo: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Researchers say they have been able to modify toxic fungus cells to fight cancer - specifically, leukaemia. The same mould that has been linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs and found on old bread has the capability of fight leukemia cells. The fungus is known as aspergillus flavus fungus. Associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr Sherry Gao, told Saturday Morning the discovery was significant. Gao said they found a new class of compound which was produced by the fungus. But how does the compound fight cancer? Associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania Dr Sherry Gao. Photo: Supplied / Dr Sherry Gao "We isolated and define the chemical structure of those new compounds," Gao said. "By making some small chemical tweaks we actually modified the structure a bit, we've found those modified compounds can enter leukaemia cells very selectively. "Once it's entered the cell, its able to prevent cell division - that's why it could possibly lead to a cure for leukaemia." This was not the first fungus that has led to a breakthrough in medicine. Penicillin was also created using a fungus. Gao said her lab was also experimenting with other fungi, aiming to kill other cancer cell lines. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Pharoah's Curse Once Killed Archaeologists. Now It Could Help Fight Cancer.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The toxic fungus Aspergillus flavus—known as the 'Pharaoh's Curse' due to its role in the deaths of archaeologists who opened the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the 1920s—could have cancer-fighting abilities. A new study developed ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), which produced novel structures of interlocking rings called 'asperigimycins.' When combined with a lipid, these asperigimycins disrupted cell division in leukemia cancer cells, and were as effective as FDA-approved therapies that have treated the disease for decades. Fungi hold a prominent place in the history of medicine. Discovered in 1928, the world's first antibiotic—penicillin–was derived from a simple mold, and since then, fungi have made their way into the ingredient lists of all kinds of immunosuppressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Some fungi with psychoactive properties are even being introduced in states across the U.S. as therapeutic tools. However, not all fungi are medicinally helpful, and one of the more cursed members of the kingdom Fungi is Aspergillus flavus. A true microbial villain, this toxic fungus can produce aflatoxins, which can cause a variety of health issues and even death. The fungus garnered the cryptic nickname 'Pharaoh's Curse' due to it being linked to the deaths of several archeologists who opened ancient tombs around the world, including the famous discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the 1920s. However, a new study published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology analyzes a wholly different aspect of this fungal villain—it's cancer-fighting properties. The group of scientists led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) modified A. flavus and found molecules that formed a unique structure of interlocking rings, which they named 'asperigimycins.' When mixed with human leukemia cancer cells, these molecules—described as a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs—were effective at knocking them out of commission. When the researchers added lipids (fatty molecules) to the mixture, the 'Pharaoh's Curse' transformed into a microbial blessing that worked as effectively as the FDA-approved drugs that've treated leukemia for decades. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' Sherry Gao, senior author of the paper from Penn, said in a press statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' To better understand the properties of these RiPPs, the scientists selectively turned genes in the leukemia cells on and off. In doing so, they found that the SLC46A3 gene was crucial for the asperigimycins to enter the cancerous cells in enough numbers to be effective. The added lipid impacts how that gene transported chemicals into the cells, increasing their potency. However, the research team confirmed that these RiPPs were only useful against leukemia cells, and appeared to have no impact on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells. So, its usefulness is specific. Once in the cells, the asperigimycins prevent cell division, which is the process by which cancer spreads. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' Gao said in a press statement. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division." The hope is to soon move testing of these compounds into animal models, and then continue onward to human trials in an effort to develop a new method of treating deadly cancers. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' Gao said in a press statement. '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.' What once was a pharaoh's curse might one day turn out to be an oncologist's blessing. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Mummy curses': Fungus once linked to King Tut's tomb now being studied for cancer treatment; scientists say shows promise against leukemia
A toxic fungus once feared for causing deadly infections in ancient tomb explorers may hold the key to a new class of cancer-fighting drugs. A new study published in Nature Chemical Biology reveals that Aspergillus flavus , a mould historically associated with so-called 'mummy curses,' contains molecules capable of killing leukemia cells. The research team, led by Sherry Gao, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, isolated and engineered a group of compounds called asperigimycins from the fungus. 'This is nature's irony at its finest,' Gao said in a statement. 'The same fungus once feared for bringing death may now help save lives.' The fungus Aspergillus flavus is known for its production of toxic spores that can survive for centuries in sealed environments like tombs. When disturbed, these spores can cause severe lung infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Historical accounts tied the deaths of several archaeologists to this fungus, including 10 of 12 researchers involved in the 1970s excavation of Poland's King Casimir IV's crypt and the death of the Earl of Carnarvon shortly after visiting King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. In the latest study, scientists focused on the fungus's production of a rare class of molecules known as RiPPs — ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides. These are complex compounds with distinctive three-dimensional structures capable of interacting powerfully with human biological systems. 'We found four novel asperigimycins with an unusual interlocking ring structure,' said lead author Qiuyue Nie. 'Two of them had strong anti-leukemia properties even without modification.' To enhance their potency and delivery, researchers attached lipid molecules similar to those found in royal jelly — a nutrient-rich substance produced by honeybees. This allowed the drugs to pass through cell membranes more easily, improving absorption by cancer cells. One key finding was the role of a gene called SLC46A3, which acts like a molecular gateway. It helps the modified asperigimycins escape internal cell compartments, allowing them to directly target and destroy leukemia cells. This mechanism may help in the design of delivery systems for other promising therapies that struggle to reach their targets inside the body. Early lab results suggest that these compounds are highly selective. While they disrupt the division of leukemia cells, they appear to spare healthy cells and show minimal effects on breast, liver, and lung cancer cells. This specificity, according to the researchers, is critical in reducing the side effects often associated with chemotherapy. The team plans to test asperigimycins in animal models next, with hopes of progressing to human clinical trials . They are also exploring other fungal strains in search of similarly promising compounds. 'The ancient world is still offering us tools for modern medicine,' Gao said. 'The tombs were feared for their curses, but they may become a wellspring of cures.'
Hans India
26-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Researchers turn toxic fungus into potent anti-cancer compound
A team of US researchers has turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound, according to a new study. The result was a promising cancer-killing compound that rivals FDA-approved drugs and opens up new frontiers in the discovery of more fungal medicines, according to the study by University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science. 'Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found,' said Sherry Gao, Presidential Penn Compact Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) and senior author of a new paper in Nature Chemical Biology journal. The therapy in question is a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs, pronounced like the 'rip' in a piece of fabric. 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, in this case, to enhance its cancer-killing properties. 'Purifying these chemicals is difficult,' says Qiuyue Nie, a postdoctoral fellow in CBE and the paper's first author. While thousands of RiPPs have been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been found in fungi. In part, this is because past researchers misidentified fungal RiPPs as non-ribosomal peptides and had little understanding of how fungi created the molecules. 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,' adds Nie. 'But that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.' To find more fungal RiPPs, the researchers 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. This novel approach — combining metabolic and genetic information — not only pinpointed the source of fungal RiPPs in A. flavus, but could be used to find more fungal RiPPs in the future. Notably, 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. The next step is to test asperigimycins in animal models, with the hope of one day moving to human clinical trials.
