Rhizopus species including Rhizopus microsporus are regularly involved in mucormycosis, disastrous fungal infections that affect immunocompromised patients. Because of its increasing incidence, unacceptably high mortality, and the extreme morbidity of highly disfiguring surgical therapy, it is imperative to look for new therapeutic modalities to treat mucormycosis. At Creative Biolabs, we have the expertise and pharmaceutical industry experience to assist you in your antifungal drug discovery projects against different fungal species, including Rhizopus microsporus.
Introduction to Rhizopus Microsporus
The Rhizopus microsporus (R. microsporus) species group belongs to the class Zygomycetes and the order Mucorales, the latter including the genus Rhizopus. This species is a widely distributed soil fungus that can cause mucormycosis, a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, and rice seedling blight. Besides, R. microsporus is one of the very few fungi that harbor bacterial endosymbionts, β-proteobacteria Burkholderia rhizoxinica, and Burkholderia endofungorum. The harbored endobacteria secrete mycotoxin rhizoxin, which is a toxin that blocks mitosis in eukaryotic cells by binding to β-tubulin. Rhizopus itself is resistant to the toxin due to an amino acid exchange in the tubulin protein.
Fig.1 R. microspores (lactophenol cotton blue stain, ×400). (Kim, 2014)
Pathogenesis of R. microsporus
Essential virulence factors of Mucorales that contribute to mucormycosis are lacking. Some of the available knowledge include the innate thermotolerance of these fungi, the capabilities for rapid growth and cell wall remodeling, and the ability of iron acquisition. Despite the fact that endosymbionts can produce toxins, several lines of evidence suggested that rhizoxin production seems not to be essential for Rhizopus pathogenicity. For example, non-toxigenic Rhizopus species can cause zygomycosis as well. Moreover, when R. microsporus was cured of symbionts with antibiotics, it still retained its ability to infect mice under laboratory conditions. However, these endosymbionts can cause potential health threat and they should be kept in mind when it comes to treatment of zygomycosis.
Features of Our Services
Creative Biolabs offers streamlined contract research services covering a broad spectrum, including target identification and validation, Hit identification, Hit to lead, Lead optimization, and IND enabling. We are focusing on a wide range of potential drug targets for your antifungal drug discovery programs. We can construct customized study designs to assist in your discovery and development efforts. Moreover, our services are characterized by:
Other fungi that are implicated in mucormycosis include:
Creative Biolabs has been key player in the antifungal drug discovery field for years and we provide our clients with a very comprehensive platform for antifungal drug discovery. Our scientific group offers the depth and breadth of services that are unparalleled. Please contact us for more information or a detailed quote.
Reference
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