Health
Ancient 'pharaoh's curse' fungus shows promise in killing cancer cells
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A potentially deadly fungus known as “pharaoh’s curse fungus” could offer an unexpected path to fighting cancer, recent research shows.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania modified molecules from the fungus — which is officially called Aspergillus flavus — to create a new compound and enhance its cancer-killing properties.
“Fungi gave us penicillin,” said Dr. Xue (Sherry) Gao, an associate professor at UPenn and leader of the study, in a press release. “These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.”
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The findings were published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
Aspergillus flavus is found in decaying leaves and compost, as well as on trees, plants and some crops, according to Mayo Clinic.
A sample of Aspergillus flavus cultured in the Gao Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. (Bella Ciervo / UPenn)
While the fungus doesn’t endanger most healthy people, it can cause respiratory issues for those who have weakened immune systems or are taking certain medications.
Some of the more severe complications of the fungus can include bleeding in the lungs and life-threatening infections in the brain, heart and kidneys, Mayo Clinic stated.
History of the ‘curse’
After archaeologists opened King Tut’s tomb in the 1920s, multiple members of the excavation team died suddenly, fueling rumors of a “curse” upon those who dared interfere with the pharaoh’s rest, according to the UPenn press release.
After archaeologists opened King Tut’s tomb in the 1920s, members of the excavation team died suddenly, fueling rumors of a “curse” upon those who disturbed the pharaoh’s rest. (Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Decades later, doctors hypothesized that fungal spores, which had been dormant for thousands of years, could have infected the team.
In the 1970s, it happened again, the university stated.
A dozen scientists entered another tomb, this time in Poland — and 10 died within a few weeks. Later investigations were said to reveal the presence of Aspergillus flavus in the tomb.
Cancer-fighting potential
Now, the same fungus linked to King Tut’s tomb could have the capability to fight leukemia in a new form of cancer therapy.
“There are a variety of compounds able to be produced by fungus,” Gao told Fox News Digital.
These compounds can be toxic to different cells, she noted, depending on the “biological management we are able to mitigate.”
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The study aimed to find a specific kind of compound — ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or “RiPPs” — within Aspergillus flavus, which was previously shown to be a good source.
When this compound is able to enter cancer cells, Gao said, it may be able to stop their growth.
“Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,” Gao said in the release. “These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.”
First author Qiuyue Nie and coauthor Maria Zotova, from left, purify samples of the fungus in the UPenn lab. (Bella Ciervo / UPenn)
When mixed with human cancer cells, two variants of the molecules within these RiPPS were found to have potent effects against leukemia cells, the researchers found.
Another variant performed as well as two FDA-approved drugs that have been used for decades to treat leukemia (cytarabine and daunorubicin).
Potential limitations
Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, M.D., a medical oncologist and cancer care consultant based in New York, cautioned that this study, which was performed on cell cultures, is still in the very early stages.
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“It’s still very far away from being applicable to use in humans with leukemia,” Troso-Sandoval, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Speaking about RiPPs, the doctor told Fox News Digital, “What they’re referring to [in the study] is basically a rare type of bioactive molecule that they have isolated from this fungus.”
There are multiple subtypes of leukemia, Troso-Sandoval pointed out, including acute and chronic forms.
“One treatment might not work on [another] type of leukemia,” she noted. Further testing is needed to determine which subtypes may contain the active molecule.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer. Once the identified compound is able to enter cancer cells, it may be able to stop their uncontrolled growth, the researchers said. (iStock)
The compound explored in the study had little to no effect on breast, liver or lung cancer cells, the researchers noted.
This suggests that its disruptive effects only work on certain types of cells, which will be an important consideration when developing medications.
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Looking ahead, the researchers plan to test the fungus’ potential in animal models and, ultimately, human trials.
Gao told Fox News Digital she is “excited about what nature can create and how it can benefit our society.”
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The study received support from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Pennsylvania, the Welch Foundation, the Houston Area Molecular Biophysics Program, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the National Science Foundation.
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An accidental lab discovery has opened the door to entirely new ways of preventing the flu.
While investigating how influenza replicates, researchers discovered that different flu strains use completely different strategies to infiltrate human cells, SWNS reported.
By targeting the specific molecules the viruses rely on, scientists found that they could block them from entering new cells and halt their replication altogether.
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Researchers say these “fundamental insights” into seasonal influenza highlight a clear path toward developing better preventive medications.
“The hope is that fundamental, curiosity-based research like this helps to pave the way for novel strategies to treat and prevent influenza infections,” principal investigator Dr. Emily Bruce, from the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine, said in the SWNS report.
While investigating how influenza replicates, researchers discovered that different flu strains use completely different strategies to infiltrate human cells. (iStock)
While several flu strains cause illness, H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses are the most common. However, current flu tests cannot differentiate between them, and clinical treatments are identical for both.
Although vaccines and antivirals are available, Bruce noted a “dire” need for better medications to stop the virus from spreading cell to xxcell.
“You don’t get sick when a virus is in one cell,” he noted. “You get sick because a virus replicates itself and goes into many more cells.”
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The study, which was published in The Journal of Virology, originally aimed to map how viral RNA segments are transported within cells to create new viral particles.
The team used H1N1 and H3N2 viruses isolated from the nasal passages of positive patients in 2022.
Clinical treatments remain identical for both primary strains of the flu virus. (iStock)
During the investigation, the team unexpectedly stumbled upon a cellular pathway that blocked the virus from entering lung cells, SWNS reported.
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The data revealed that when a specific human protein called Rab11B was depleted, H3N2 viruses failed to enter human lung cells. H1N1 viruses were completely unaffected.
Using reverse genetics, the team mapped this defect and uncovered a brand-new, H3N2-specific role for Rab11B during viral entry.
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This discovery challenged the scientific assumption that all flu viruses enter cells the same way.
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“Viruses are like pirates from different countries hijacking someone’s ship,” Bruce said. “Different viruses, like different types of pirates, use different methods to get onboard.”
This discovery challenged the scientific assumption that all flu viruses enter cells the same way. (iStock)
“We had previously thought that all flu viruses used the same way to get into a cell, but we discovered that this is not true,” she went on. “H1N1 and H3N2 need different proteins to get in, and if you get rid of the right protein, a specific virus can’t get in.”
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While these findings identify a critical cellular pathway for viral entry, the study was conducted using isolated cells, the researchers acknowledged.
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Further research is needed to determine whether blocking the protein is safe and effective within a live, complex human respiratory system.
Bruce and the team hope to conduct further research to determine whether this Rab11B-dependency is a fundamental property of H3N2, or if it’s a trait unique to currently circulating flu strains.
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Eating processed meat like ham, sausage and bacon may be linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, according to new research.
While health organizations have already confirmed that processed meat can contribute to colon cancer, this study looked closer at cancers in the upper digestive tract, where the link has historically been less clear.
To understand these connections, researchers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), one of the world’s largest long-term nutrition and cancer cohorts, tracked the health and diets of 450,112 people across Europe for an average of 14 years.
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The study group included 131,426 men and 318,686 women, according to the study’s press release.
During the follow-up period, 876 people developed stomach cancer and 215 people developed esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
For female participants, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk of developing the disease. (iStock)
Researchers tracked where the stomach cancers grew, separating them into the upper part of the stomach near the throat and the lower part of the stomach.
The researchers also sorted the tumors into two categories based on how the cancer cells appeared under a microscope: intestinal, which forms more organized structures, and diffuse, in which the cells are more scattered throughout the tissue.
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After adjusting for other lifestyle factors, the researchers found that for every extra 30 grams of processed meat a person ate per day, their overall risk of stomach cancer went up by 9%. Eating that same extra 30 grams a day was also linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
A standard single slice of regular deli-sliced ham or lunch meat averages around 28 grams, according to USDA data and nutritional tracking databases.
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken and turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach. (iStock)
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken or turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach, the researchers noted.
The study also revealed differences between men and women. For male participants, only processed meat showed a clear, statistically significant link to a higher risk of stomach cancer. For female participants, however, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk.
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These findings align with global health benchmarks, particularly those established by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The agency has long classified processed meat as a known human carcinogen, primarily due to its strong, well-documented links to colorectal cancer.
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However, health organizations have also consistently pointed to a potential, yet less definitive, relationship between these meats and cancers of the stomach.
Eating 30 grams of processed meat a day, or the equivalent to one slice of ham, was linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. (iStock)
Further scientific investigation is needed to confirm the findings and to account for other underlying risk factors, such as certain stomach infections, which could interact with dietary habits.
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A key limitation of the study is its reliance on self-reported diets, which can sometimes lead to inaccuracies in how participants recall their meat consumption over time, the researchers noted.
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The findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers requesting comment.
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