Israeli researchers have discovered a plant-based molecule that can effectively combat pathogenic fungi and serve as a foundation for developing environmentally friendly treatments. The study was led by Dr. Ofri Levi of the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute and Tel-Hai College’s Faculty of Sciences, together with Prof. Benny Horwitz of the Technion’s Faculty of Biology.
Their findings were published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, and offer a new approach to addressing one of the fastest-growing threats to public health and agriculture: fungi that have developed resistance to medications and pesticides.
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Corn leaves sprayed with varying concentrations of ferulic acid and exposed to the fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus
(Photo: Tel-Hai College)
Fungal pathogens pose a serious danger to humans and crops. In people, invasive fungal infections can be fatal, especially among those with weakened immune systems. An estimated 2.5 million people die from fungal infections each year. In agriculture, fungi destroy 10 to 20 percent of global crop yields annually despite widespread pesticide use, threatening food security for millions.
“The main challenge in developing antifungal drugs is the biological similarity between fungal and human cells,” the researchers said. Unlike bacteria, which have unique targets for antibiotics, fungal cells share many molecular pathways with human cells. Effective treatments must target fungal-specific pathways, such as the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the fungal equivalent of human cholesterol and a common target of current antifungal drugs.
Using advanced molecular tools, including CRISPRi gene-silencing screens, the scientists found that ferulic acid disrupts ergosterol production, effectively acting as an antifungal compound. They also found that ferulic acid works synergistically with fluconazole, one of the most widely used antifungal medications. When combined, the two successfully overcame strains of Candida albicans that had developed clinical resistance to fluconazole, demonstrating significant therapeutic potential.
The findings also carry major implications for agriculture. In tests on corn plants infected with a pathogenic fungus, ferulic acid dramatically reduced crop damage, suggesting a new sustainable approach that could decrease reliance on environmentally harmful chemical pesticides.
“This breakthrough has dual significance,” the researchers said. “Ferulic acid may serve as a basis for new treatments against drug-resistant infections in humans, and it offers an eco-friendly agricultural solution that can reduce harmful chemical use.”
The team aims to develop natural treatments based on plant-derived molecules. They recently received a research grant from the Israel Science Foundation to continue advancing the project, supported by both the ISF and the Helmsley Charitable Trust through its Helmsley Fellowships for Sustainability and Health.