Yale scientists have developed a new class of small molecules that attack fungal cell wall of pathogenic fungi and signaling antibodies to join the process. The discovery offers a potential new therapeutic approach to treat fungal illnesses that affect thousands of people each year, including patients whose immune systems are compromised by organ transplants, cancer treatment and HIV infections.

       The new compounds are called antibody-recruiting molecules targeting fungi (ARM-Fs). These small molecules have two main features: a target-binding terminus that latches onto the fungal cell wall and an antibody-binding terminus that recognizes and recruits antibodies already present in the human bloodstream. Using the human immune system as the effector arm this strategy was found to be incredibly versatile said Yale chemistry and pharmacology professor David Spiegel and senior author of the study describing the discovery in the German science journal Angewandte Chemie. This is the first time they have shown this strategy to work in treating a fungal disease.

       Over the past decade, Spiegel's lab has explored small-molecule approaches in treating a range of diseases, including cancer and HIV. Spiegel said that not only are such molecules effective against drug-resistant strains of diseases but also may be used in combination with existing treatments.

Fig. The design showing antifungal antibody-recruiting small molecules (ARM-F) targeting chitin, a fibrous substance in the cell walls of fungi.

Image credit: Yale University

Source: www.sciencedaily.com