Researchers from Yale University have developed a new class of small molecules that attack fungal infections by clinging to the cell wall of harmful fungi and recruiting a swarm of antibodies to join the fight. The work was published earlier this week in Angewandte Chemie.
The new compounds are called antibody-recruiting molecules targeting fungi (ARM-Fs). They have a target-binding terminus that latches onto the fungal cell wall, and an antibody-binding terminus that recognizes and recruits antibodies already present in the human bloodstream.
"Because we're using the human immune system as the effector arm, this strategy is incredibly versatile. It is the first time we've shown this strategy can work in treating a fungal disease," said Yale chemistry and pharmacology professor David Spiegel, Ph.D., senior author of the study.
The compounds can also be used in combination with existing treatments. With these findings, there is a potential for a new therapeutic approach to treat fungal illnesses.
Image: This figure shows the design of antifungal antibody-recruiting small molecules (ARM-F) targeting chitin, a fibrous substance in the cell walls of fungi. Image courtesy of Yale University.