Potential of Antibody Therapy in Combatting Lethal Mucormycosis
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Synopsis
Recent research from UCLA highlights an antibody-based therapy that targets mucormycosis, a lethal fungal infection affecting Covid-19 patients. The study introduces VX-01, a humanized antibody that shows promise in treating this dangerous disease.
Key Takeaways
- Antibody therapy shows potential against mucormycosis.
- High mortality rates, especially in Covid-19 patients.
- Monoclonal antibodies target CotH protein to inhibit fungal invasion.
- VX-01 proves safer and more effective than prior antibodies.
- Steady increase in cases linked to diabetes and cancer prevalence.
New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) An antibody-based therapy has demonstrated potential in treating lethal mucormycosis — a fungal infection that significantly impacted Covid-19 patients.
Mucormycosis arises from Mucorales fungi and poses high mortality risks for individuals with compromised immune systems. The infection has severely affected Covid-19 patients treated with elevated doses of corticosteroids, leading to mortality rates nearing 60 percent.
While there are vaccines and immunotherapies available for viral and bacterial infections, there is a notable absence of effective antifungal immunotherapies specifically for mucormycosis.
Researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) explored the application of monoclonal antibodies to target a vital fungal cell surface protein — CotH — which facilitates the fungus's invasion of human cells and results in mucormycosis.
“Mucormycosis is a devastating illness that typically affects patients with weakened immune systems, including those with poorly controlled diabetes, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and transplant recipients,” stated Ashraf Ibrahim, an investigator at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
In their study, published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, researchers created an antibody known as VX-01 — a humanized antibody that has shown greater effectiveness in binding to the fungus than the original antibody.
While both antibodies offer protection against infection, the humanized variant minimizes immunogenicity and boosts therapeutic efficacy when administered to humans.
Initial tests indicate that VX-01 is safe, causing no adverse effects on healthy cells, suggesting that it may serve as a promising treatment to combat mucormycosis in individuals with weakened immune systems.
“Our humanized monoclonal antibody enables antifungal drug therapy to penetrate infected tissues by preventing fungal cells from harming human cells and blood vessels,” Ibrahim remarked.
Ibrahim noted that the incidence of this disease has steadily increased over the past four decades, correlating with the rise in diabetes and cancer cases, as well as advancements in transplant procedures.
