| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to methods for screening inhibitors of siderophore biosynthesis in fungi, preferably in Aspergillus species, particularly preferred in Aspergillus fumigatus comprising (a) contacting a cell expressing a fungal siderophore with a compound to be tested; (b) determining whether said cell is capable of siderophore biosynthesis in the presence of said compound to be tested when compared to a cell not contacted with said compound; and (c) identifying the compound which inhibits fungal siderophore biosynthesis. Accordingly, the invention also provides for a method for screening inhibitors of fungal siderophore biosynthesis comprising the steps of (a) contacting an enzyme involved in siderophore biosynthesis with a compound to be tested; (b) determining whether said enzyme is functional in the pathway of siderophore biosynthesis in the presence of said compounds to be tested when compared to an enzyme not contacted with said compound; and (c) identifying the compound which inhibits the enzymatic function involved in siderophore biosynthesis. In another aspect the present invention relates to a method of preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating diseases associated with fungal infections, particularly, aspergillosis or coccidiosis comprising (a) identifying a compound which inhibits fungal siderophore biosynthesis; and (b) formulating said compound with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for the production of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the steps of the aforementioned screening method and the subsequent step of mixing the compound identified to be an inhibitor of fungal siderophore biosynthesis with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Moreover, the present invention envisages a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of fungal siderophore biosynthesis as well as the use of such an inhibitor for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with fungal infections, particularly, aspergillosis or coccidiosis. |
