Mechanisms Underlying the Biochemical Activity of Scabrosin Esters and other Epipolythiodioxopiperazine Toxins.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/148927

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Fungi produce a variety of chemicals which are toxic to animals. The fungi have probably developed the ability to synthesize and secrete these toxins as part of a chemical defence mechanism and-or in order to limit other microbial life forms because of nutrient competition. Some of these toxins will selectively kill microbes such as bacteria and other fungi as well as simpler life forms such as viruses, which can cause pathological changes to human beings. Fungal toxins may also be useful for control of proliferative diseases such as cancer. Because fungi have had many millions of years to select for the most efficient toxins, they have been a valuable source of potent toxins for study. Some of these toxins are now in use clinically to treat human diseases ie penicillin and cyclosporin A. A fundamental understanding of fungal toxins is important to ensure the availability of new drugs to combat resistant strains of bacteria and to provide clues for the synthesis of new drugs to treat cancer which can also develop resistance to currently used drugs.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $256,527.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Biochemistry And Cell Biology Not Elsewhere Classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Cancer | Celldeath | Drugs | Enzymes | Fungi | Toxinology

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