A team of US researchers has successfully converted a toxic fungus, Aspergillus flavus, into a promising cancer-fighting compound, according to a new study released today. This fungus is notorious for its toxicity, linked to historical deaths.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science isolated a new class of molecules, called RiPPs (ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides), from Aspergillus flavus. After modifying these chemicals, they tested them against leukemia cells.
The outcome was a cancer-killing compound that rivals FDA-approved drugs, potentially opening new avenues for discovering fungal-derived medicines.
“Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found,” said Sherry Gao, a senior author of the study published in Nature Chemical Biology.
The study also highlights how the team’s novel approach, combining metabolic and genetic analysis, not only pinpointed the source of these compounds but could also aid in finding more fungal RiPPs in the future. Importantly, these compounds, named asperigimycins, showed little to no effect on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells, suggesting a specific action, a crucial trait for future medications.
The next steps involve testing asperigimycins in animal models, with the ultimate goal of human clinical trials.