Fighting Fungal Infections

THURSDAY, March 11 (HealthDayNews) -- A protease-inhibitor cocktail increases the anti-microbial action of promising new peptides that kill several medically important fungi, some of which are resistant to current drugs, says a University at Buffalo study.

The cocktail protects the peptides by inactivating enzymes programmed to destroy the peptides. This protection lets the peptides more than double their anti-microbial activity, the study found.

The findings were presented March 11 at the International Association of Dental Research meeting in Hawaii.

One peptide in particular, MUC7 12-mer, has shown particular promise for treating drug-resistant fungi. This peptide is a piece of a larger, naturally occurring human salivary mucin molecule.

The researchers note there are only a handful of drugs available to treat fungal infections. The advent of drug-resistant fungal infections poses a special risk to people with depressed immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS, and organ-transplant and chemotherapy patients.

More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about fungal infections at http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/skin/fungus.html.


The information in this article, including reference materials, are provided to you solely for educational or research purposes. Information in reference materials, are not and should not be considered professional health care advice upon which you should rely. Health care information changes rapidly and consequently, information in this article may be out of date. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician, dentist or other health care professional.