DEADLY TOMB FUNGUS FLIPS THE SCRIPT: FROM PHARAOH’S CURSE TO LEUKEMIA KILLER

DEADLY TOMB FUNGUS FLIPS THE SCRIPT: FROM PHARAOH’S CURSE TO LEUKEMIA KILLER

Who knew the “Pharaoh’s curse” fungus, once blamed for mysterious tomb deaths, would become a cancer-fighting hero? Aspergillus flavus, the toxic mold haunting ancient tombs like King Tut’s, is now yielding powerful compounds that punch leukemia cells like FDA-approved drugs.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania isolated a new class of molecules called asperigimycins from this notorious fungus. These ribosomally synthesized peptides (RiPPs), rare in fungi, showed remarkable ability to disrupt leukemia cell division—two variants even worked without tweaks, while a lipid-enhanced version matched standard chemo drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin.
This discovery not only rewrites the deadly legacy of Aspergillus flavus but also opens a fungal treasure trove for future drug development. As Prof. Sherry Gao puts it, “Fungi gave us penicillin; now they might give us the next cancer cure”.

#PharaohsCurse #CancerBreakthrough #FungalMedicine #LeukemiaFight #ScienceWins

A sample of Aspergillus flavus cultured in the Gao Lab. Credit: Bella Ciervo, via Univ. of Penn State. Photo credit: http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org