Screening methods for membrane binding fungicides

摘要

The invention clearly demonstrates that the anti-fungal activity of given plant and insect defensins is mediated via the interaction of said defensins with fungal membrane lipids, said lipids being selected from the group comprising steryl glucosides and sphingolipids, more particularly the glycosphingolipid man nose-(inositol-phosphate)2-ceramide (M(IP)2C) and the glucosylceramides. Based on these findings a method is provided for assessing the anti-fungal properties of a compound characterised in that the method evaluates the interaction of a compound with the steryl glucosides and sphingolipids in or derived from the fungal cell membrane.