New discovery offers potential weapon against deadly fungal infections

Researchers have discovered how a bacterial antibiotic can disarm Candida albicans, a major cause of life-threatening fungal infections, opening new avenues for developing life-saving treatments



. It was found that the antibiotic gladiolin can switch Candida albicans from its tissue-damaging, invasive hyphal form back into its less harmful round yeast form.



"The thread-like hyphae of Candida albicans allow the fungus to penetrate and damage human tissue and form drug-resistant biofilms, leading to dangerous infections," said lead author Professor Ana Traven.



Researchers at Monash University and the University of Warwick in Britain found that gladiolin changes the fungus's metabolism, causing it to consume glucose more quickly and forcing it to switch back to its less invasive yeast state.



The findings suggest naturally occurring bacterial molecules like gladiolin could tackle dangerous fungi by both enhancing existing antifungal drugs and switching off one of the fungus's key disease-causing behaviors.



It could help existing drugs kill dangerous fungal pathogens, including drug-resistant biofilms on medical devices, while allowing lower and less toxic doses of antifungal medicines, the researchers said, noting that fungal infections kill an estimated two million people worldwide each year, while treatment options remain limited.