COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING FUNGAL CELL WALL FORMATION

摘要

Disclosed herein are antifungal compositions having an oligosaccharide that includes an N-acetylhexosamine residue linked .beta.(14) to a hexose and a biologically acceptable carrier. The isolation of the fungal enzyme chitin glucan .beta.(14) transferase (CG.beta.(14)T) is disclosed along with methods for using this enzyme in an assay for antifungal agents. CG.beta.(14)T catalyses the formation of a .beta.(14) linkage between the terminal reducing N-acetylglucosamine residue of chitin and the non-reducing glucose residue of .beta.(13) linked glucans. Inhibitors of the enzyme, antifungals including such inhibitors, methods for the prevention and the treatment of fungal infections in animals and plants, and screening methods for identifying antifungals are also disclosed.