Model created to study fungal infections

WORCESTER, Mass., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've created a model system to screen possible drug targets for conditions such as thrush, athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections.

The researchers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center said using their new model, they have also identified a gene that might be a promising target for a new anti-fungal drug.

The researchers, led by Assistant Professor Reeta Prusty Rao, said they developed the new model using the microscopic soil worm Ceanorhaditis elegans as a test host that is then infected with the fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Commonly known as baker's or brewer's yeast, S. cerevisae doesn't cause disease in humans, but it can infect, and if left untreated, kill the worm.

Since S.cerveisiae has many genes in common with fungi that do cause human disease, the scientists said genetic and molecular analysis now possible with the new testing model can be used to identify targets that could prevent or treat fungal infections in people.

"The beauty of this new model is that we can study both sides of the equation: the processes of fungal infection and the host's response to try and fight off that infection," said Prusty Rao.

The team reported its research in a recent issue of the journal Eukaryotic Cell.