<\/p>\n Death rates due to fungal infections are similar to those of tuberculosis and greater than those due to malaria.<\/p>\n The team discovered that Arg1, a protein produced by all fungi, enables the\u00a0Cryptococcus neoformans<\/em>\u00a0fungus to establish potentially lethal infections in patients with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV\/AIDS or leukaemia.<\/p>\n Lead researcher, Associate Professor Julianne Djordjevic, said she is optimistic this discovery will provide a new avenue for the development of safer urgently needed antifungal drugs.<\/p>\n \u201cFinding new treatments to kill fungi is a major health priority. Novel antifungal drugs are desperately needed to reduce the high global morbidity, mortality and cost associated with treating invasive fungal infections.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause fungi are so similar to human cells, developing new drugs that kill fungi \u2013 but are non-toxic to humans \u2013 is a challenge. Furthermore not all antifungal drugs kill all types of fungi and drug-resistance is an emerging problem.<\/p>\n \u201cBy investigating how fungi cause disease, we have identified a new drug target with the view to design new therapies to combat these serious infections,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cryptococcus neoformans<\/em>\u00a0is the world\u2019s most common cause of fungal meningitis.<\/p>\n The primary site of infection is the lung. After inhalation from the environment, the infection spreads from the lung to the brain via the bloodstream.<\/p>\n Immunosuppressed patients typically present with meningitis, which is fatal without treatment.<\/p>\n Associate Professor Djordjevic and her team identified the Arg1 protein as part of their investigation of the mechanisms that fungi exploit to cause life-threatening infections in the body.<\/p>\n \u201cOur laboratory has established reliable methods for studying\u00a0Cryptococcus neoformans<\/em>\u00a0at the molecular level.<\/p>\n \u201cUsing gene deletion analysis and animal infection models, we identified that the Arg1 metabolic pathway allows\u00a0Cryptococcus<\/em>\u00a0to establish a lung infection and to spread to brain, resulting in meningitis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are now looking at Arg1 as a selective target for antifungal drug development. By targeting Arg1, we hope to block the Arg1 metabolic pathway and thereby prevent\u00a0Cryptococcus\u00a0<\/em>from establishing a lung infection and spreading to the brain,\u201d Associate Professor Djordjevic explained.<\/p>\n Associate Professor Djordjevic said that even with appropriate treatment, high mortalities are reported highlighting the need to develop more effective antifungal therapies.<\/p>\n \u201cFungal diseases are a growing global health problem and a leading cause of blindness, respiratory disease, meningitis and death.<\/p>\n \u201cTreatments with fewer side effects will significantly increase the chances of recovery for a patient, potentially saving thousands of lives every year,\u201d Associate Professor Djordjevic concluded.<\/p>\n![\"Left](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC05463-scaled.jpeg\")
![\"Fungal](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Fungal-Arg1.png\")