Development of Lipopeptides as Bioactives for Drug Resistant Fungi

Описание: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Development of Lipopeptides as Bioactives for Drug-Resistant Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of microorganisms that play critical roles in various ecosystems. Certain fungal diseases have a significant impact on agriculture, leading to losses in crop yields and food shortages. Appearing in the early 20th century and in the 1990s, a new strain of Foc (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense), known as Tropical Race 4 (TR4) or Panama 4, emerged in Southeast Asia and has since spread to other regions, including Africa and Central America and pushed a number of crop variants toward extinction. Lipopeptides are a class of natural and synthetic compounds consisting of a peptide chain linked to a lipid moiety. They exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. Recent advances in fungal research have provided insights into the mechanisms of fungal infections and potential targets for antifungal therapies or biopesticides. However, more research is needed to develop effective treatments and prevent the emergence of drug or chemical-resistant fungal strains. Our project involves the design and development of lipid and peptide molecules; including the modeling of gene product targets and synthetic molecules, designing and printing peptides, and lipid linkage.

RESEARCHERS: Netra Telang Monta Vista High School '25', Nishika Datla Washington High School '25', Maya Chitor Basis Independent Fremont Upper School '27', Srinidhi Venkatesh Irvington High School '27'


ADVISOR: Amadi Lab Biotechnology and Synthetic biology

KEYWORDS: Chemical Biology | Drug Discovery and Development | Biotechnology | TR4 | Fungal Disease | Lipopeptide Therapeutics