Deadly ‘Pharaoh’s Curse’ Fungus May Hold Key to Fighting Cancer

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00:00Deadly pharaoh's curse fungus may hold key to fighting cancer.

00:04Once blamed for the pharaoh's curse deaths after tomb excavations,

00:08Aspergillus flavus is now being studied for its cancer-fighting compounds,

00:12with asperigamycins showing promise against leukemia.

00:18University of Pennsylvania researchers turned Aspergillus flavus into a cancer-fighting agent,

00:24isolating molecules that kill leukemia cells as effectively as FDA-approved drugs.

00:30Lead researcher Sherry Gao emphasized fungi's potential in discovering new natural medicines.

00:38RIPs are ribosome-made peptides modified to boost cancer-fighting power.

00:43While thousands have been identified in bacteria, RIPs and fungi have been overlooked.

00:49Researcher Kyu Yu Ni notes their complex synthesis drives strong bioactivity,

00:54revealing the fungi's untapped medicinal potential.

01:00Researchers studied 12 Aspergillus strains and focused on aflavus,

01:04identifying a key protein behind fungal RIPs, disabling its genes removed RIP markers.

01:10They also developed a new method combining genetic and metabolic data to uncover more fungal RIPs.

01:20The team discovered asperigamycins with interlocking ring structures,

01:23showing potent effects against leukemia. A variant combined with royal jelly lipid matched

01:29FDA-approved drugs Donorubicin and Citerabine.

01:36Researchers discovered that asperigamycins block microtubule formation,

01:40disrupting cancer cell division. They target specific cells with minimal effect on lung,

01:46liver, or breast cancer cells, fungi, or bacteria, revealing their untapped therapeutic potential.