141 results about "Cryptococcus neoformans" patented technology

The compositions and methods described herein discloses the design, synthesis and testing of compounds that act as inhibitors of DHFR. The basic scaffold of these inhibitors includes a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine ring with a propargyl linker to another substituted aryl, bicyclo or heteroaryl ring. These DHFR inhibitors are potent and selective for many different pathogenic organisms, including the DHFR enzyme from bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, fungi such as Candida glabrata, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans and protozoa such as Cryptosporidium hominis and Toxoplasma gondii. These compounds and other similar compounds are also potent against the mammalian enzyme and may be useful as anti-cancer therapeutics.

The compositions and methods described herein disclose the design, synthesis and testing of compounds that act as inhibitors of DHFR. The basic scaffold of these inhibitors includes a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine ring with a propargyl linker to another substituted aryl, bicyclo or heteroaryl ring. These DHFR inhibitors are potent and selective for many different pathogenic organisms, including the DHFR enzyme from bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, fungi such as Candida glabrata, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans and protozoa such as Cryptosporidium hominis and Toxoplasma gondii. These compounds and other similar compounds are also potent against the mammalian enzyme and may be useful as anti-cancer therapeutics.

Provided herein are uses of genes for HOG, Ras and cAMP signal transduction pathways to treat fungal infection. To regulate the HOG pathway of Cryptococcus neoformans, roles of SSK1, TCO2, SSK2, PBS2, HOG1, ENA1 and NHA1 genes were investigated to find that a biosynthesis level of ergosterol is increased when these genes are inhibited. When the genes are inhibited, a large amount of ergosterol is distributed on a fungal cell membrane. Accordingly, since there are many working points of an ergosterol-binding antifungal agent, an efficiency of the ergosterol-binding antifungal agent can be considerably improved. To regulate the Ras and cAMP pathways of Cryptococcus neoformans, roles of RAS1, RAS2, CDC24, GPA1, CAC1, ACA1, PKA1, HSP12 and HSP122 genes were investigated to find that a sensitivity to a polyene- or azole-based drug is increased when these genes are inhibited. Therefore, an antifungal pharmaceutical composition including an inhibitor against the gene or protein encoded by the same can be used as an excellent combined antifungal agent which can reduce a conventional amount of an antifungal agent used and increase an efficiency.