Obiettivo
Fungal pathogens represent the major eukaryotic agents of serious infection in European countries. Infections due to Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are the most common and clinically important pathogens and are therefore the focus of this project. The repertoire of available antifungal chemotherapeutic agents is inadequate to treat life-threatening infections that are characterized by morbidities that exceed those due to most important bacterial and viral diseases. Therefore there is an urgent need to generate new, efficacious, non-toxic compounds with broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The fungal wall is the skeleton and armour of the fungus but potentially also its Achilles heel since the major components are absent from mammals and can be specifically targeted with compounds that do not affect human metabolism. We have focused our programme on the core cell wall structure that is common to all fungal pathogens and is essential for their growth and viability. This core consists of the component polysaccharides 1-3 glucan and chitin, which are cross-linked to each other. The enzymes and reactions associated with the synthesis and the remodeling of these major cell wall polysaccharides as well as the sensing mechanisms important in cell wall integrity and remolding during morphogenetic processes will be investigated. The challenge for this STREP is investigate mechanisms of fungal cell wall synthesis in order to identify new antifungal targets to control human fungal infections in Europe.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseases
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Parole chiave
Invito a presentare proposte
FP6-2003-LIFESCIHEALTH-I
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