Other

Ciba-geigy Corporation

Novartis Finance Corporation

University Research Corporation

Mycologics, Inc.

Claude P Selitrennikoff

Sharon L Potter

Bridget E Laue

Walden K Roberts

Mitsunori Nakata

Ying Hai Chen

Amy E Wright

Shirley A Pomponi

Peter J McCarthy

Anthony J De Lucca

Carol S Enderlin

Dedra Harmody

Keith Brian Killday

Katherine Chilson

Greg Pott

Rebecca Schimoler

John M Bland

Craig B Vigo

The present invention provides methods for simultaneously assessing microbial phosphoglucose isomerase, ketol-isomerase and glucosamine-6-phosphate acetyltransferase activities, by measuring the production of Coenzyme A (CoA). The present invention finds use in the isolation of new classes of antifungal drugs, wherein the compounds have the ability to inhibit fungal glucose utilization.

Methods for the identification of fungal glucose utilization inhibitors and antifungal agents

The present invention relates to methods to assay 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase activity. The present invention also relates to methods for drug screening to identify compounds having antimicrobial activity, wherein the compounds have the ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of a microbial ketol-isomerase. In other embodiments, methods are provided for the identification of compounds that selectively inhibit microbial ketol-isomerase activity compared to the ketol-isomerase activity of the subject being treated for an infection.

Methods for the identification of antimicrobial compounds

The present invention relates to fungal histidine kinases. In particular, the present invention is directed to histidine kinases from Neurospora (e.g., ), Candida (e.g, ), and Aspergillus (e.g., ), and related compositions. Furthermore, the present invention provides compositions and methods for the identification of compounds having antifungal activity, as well as compositions and methods for the treatment of fungal infections.

Histidine kinases of Aspergillus and other fungal species, related compositions, and methods of use

The novel compositions and methods of the subject invention can be used in antifugal applications. The antifugal agents of the subject invention can be used in the treatment of an animal or human having a fugal infection. In a further embodiment the compounds can be used to treat plant fugal infections, disinfect surfaces, and prevent spoilage of organic compositions such as food and cosmetics.

Cyclic peroxides as novel antifungal agents

A novel antifungal compound, &ldquo;CAY-1&rdquo;, was isolated from the dried fruit of,(cayenne pepper), purified to homogeneity, and characterized as a novel sterol glycoside (a saponin) with a molecular mass of 1243.35 Da. CAY-1 demonstrates antifungal activity against a large variety of fungal organisms associated with diseases in plants, animals and humans including, but not limited to,,and,, but has minimal toxic effects on mammalian cells.

Fungicidal saponin, CAY-1, and isolation thereof from Capsium species fruit

Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.

Synergistic antifungal protein and compositions containing same

A (1,3).beta.-glucan synthase mutant useful in the research and development of anti-fungal drugs. A key step in fungal wall assembly, hyphal growth and infection is the synthesis of (1,3).beta.-linked glucan. Because .beta.-glucan is not made by humans, (1,3).beta.-glucan synthase is an attractive target for development of new antifungal antibiotics. A (1,3).beta.-glucan synthase gene has been cloned and the cDNA sequence and polypeptide amino acid sequence of the gene has been established.

(1,3) .beta.-glucan synthase genes and inducible inhibition of fungal

Growing community of inventors

Evergreen, CO, United States of America

Claude P Selitrennikoff