Cholesterols Great Escape!

Qureshi, Zaeem

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128147 Copy

Description

Title

Cholesterols Great Escape!

Author(s)

Qureshi, Zaeem

Issue Date

2025

Keyword(s)

• simulations
• extractions
• sterols

Date of Ingest

2025-05-08T11:21:15-05:00

Abstract

Ever had a nasty fungal infection? Your treatment likely dealt with cell membranes and sterols. Sterols are essential for cell life as they help maintain fluidity and order in the membrane. When fungal infections invade the body, they present fungal cells that rely on ergosterol for vital membrane function. Some antifungal drugs extract ergosterol in order to disrupt the membrane and trigger fungal cell death. In human cells we have cholesterol which is structurally and functionally similar to ergosterol, with the latter having an extra carbon and double bond. Unfortunately, this similarity causes many antifungal drugs to mistakenly attack both fungal and human cells by extracting the two sterols, leading to harmful side effects like fevers, hypotension, and nausea.Using molecular dynamics simulations, such as the one seen above, we can extract both ergosterol and cholesterol from their respective membranes to compare the forces acting on them, such as hydrophobic interactions and lipid packing. By identifying key differences in these forces, we can better inform antifungal drug development such that they precisely target fungal cells while leaving human cells unharmed. Simulating sterols breaking through the membrane could lead to a breakthrough in safer, more effective antifungal treatments!

Type of Resource

• still image
• text

Language

eng

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Zaeem Qureshi

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