Method for treating fungal infections using cell lytic enzymes

• Main Author: DAVIES; DAVID ALLEN LEWIS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.12.1977
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPIRITS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; VINEGAR; WINE

The present invention encompasses a method for treating fungal infections in animals comprising administering to animals in need of antifungal treatment an effective amount of fungal cell lytic enzymes extracted from Coprinus, Lycoperdon, or Bolbitius in conjunction with conventional antimycotic agents such as amphotericin B or Nystatin. The fungal cell lytic enzymes are extracted from Coprinus, Lycoperdon, and Bolbitius by conventional enzyme isolation techniques. These fungal cell lytic enzymes retain their activity in vivo, are relatively non toxic and destroy fungi by degrading fungal cell walls and weakening the fungal cell walls so that conventional antimycotic agents are far more effective. The method of the present invention is particularly useful in treating infections by opportunistic fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.