UK researchers develop new antifungal polyenes that are more potent and less toxic
Scientists at Imperial College London and the University of Manchester have used genome‑mining techniques to discover a family of novel polyene antifungal compounds. By analysing bacterial DNA, the team identified enzymes that can produce safer variants of the traditional drug amphotericin.
In mouse models the new compounds, including a candidate named Nys34, showed higher antifungal activity with reduced toxicity and improved solubility compared with existing treatments. The findings, published in *Nature*, respond to the World Health Organization’s warning that drug‑resistant fungal infections are an escalating global health threat.
Entities: Imperial College London · Nys34 · Saadia Nasr Mirza · University of Manchester · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The researchers used nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the structures of the new polyenes. (Analytical methods described in the study)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The newly discovered compounds are more potent and less toxic than existing antifungal treatments in mouse tests. (Preclinical mouse studies reported by the research team)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The study describing the new antifungal agents was published in the journal *Nature*. (Nature publication)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Enzymes identified in the study can be used to redesign polyene medicines, reducing toxicity while retaining activity. (Study conclusions)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Dr Saadia Nasr Mirza said amphotericin is highly toxic, prompting the search for safer polyene variants. (Research team quote)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The World Health Organization has reported that drug‑resistant fungal diseases are a growing global health threat. (WHO report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers used genome‑mining to identify novel polyene antifungal compounds produced by bacteria. (Researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Manchester)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] One compound, Nys34, showed promising results in a mouse model of invasive aspergillosis. (Preclinical efficacy data)