Yeast infection?

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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/techscience/story/0,4386,245507,00.ht

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Yeast infection? Just 'turn off' gene

SCIENTISTS here have found a way to neutralise yeast cells that

sometimes cause fatal fungal infections.

Patients with weak immune systems often succumb to the otherwise

benign yeast cells in the digestive system.

A team of 10 researchers, led by Associate Professor Wang Yue at the

Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, found that by turning off a

specific gene in the yeast, they could 'switch off' the organism's

capacity to infect.

Usually, the fungus - a member of the yeast family, which goes by the

scientific name Candida albicans - lives in the gut as a harmless

single-cell organism.

But antibiotics or a weakened immune system, like in an Aids patient,

can change the natural balance in the body, and cause an explosion in

the number of yeast cells.

If they find an opening into the blood system, through a lesion for

instance, they can travel to the brain, the kidneys and the lungs.

'Something in the blood serum triggers the fungus to grow root-like

projections, which can penetrate and kill the organ tissue, and that

can cause serious problems,' said Prof Wang. This is how the fungus

becomes infectious and dangerous.

Worse, when the body tries to mount a defence and sends white blood

cells to 'eat' these yeast cells, the root-like extensions pierce the

white blood cells' membranes and wipe them out.

Only a few members of the yeast family can cause problems like this,

and Candida albicans is 'right there on top of the list', said Prof

Wang.

Up to 50 per cent of patients with weak immune systems die from

Candida albicans infection, said the institute.

Prof Wang and the team found a specific gene inside the yeast that

controls the growth of these root-like projections. Stop this gene

and you stop the yeast from growing roots.

The next step is to find a compound or chemical that can stop the

gene from working. This would lead to formulating a drug that can

stop deaths from yeast infections.