Fumagillin
Encyclopedia
Fumagillin is a complex biomolecule
and used as an antimicrobial
agent. It was isolated in 1949 from the microbial organism Aspergillus fumigatus
.
and Nosema ceranae infections in honey bee
s.
Some studies found it to be effective against some myxozoa
n parasites, including Myxobolus cerebralis
, an important parasite of fish
; however, in the more rigorous tests required for U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approval, it was ineffective.
There are reports that fumagillin controls Nosema ceranae
, which has recently been hypothesized as a possible cause of colony collapse disorder
.
Fumagillin is also investigated as an inhibitor of malaria
parasite growth.
. It is also an amebicide
.
Fumagillin can block blood vessel formation by binding to an enzyme
called methionine aminopeptidase 2. and for this reason, the compound, together with semisynthetic derivatives, are investigated as a angiogenesis inhibitor
in the treatment of cancer.
Preliminary clinical trials are being conducted by Zafgen into using the fumagillin analog
beloranib
for weight loss.
, with several reported successful strategies, racemic, asymmetric and formal.
Biomolecule
A biomolecule is any molecule that is produced by a living organism, including large polymeric molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids as well as small molecules such as primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and natural products...
and used as an antimicrobial
Antimicrobial
An anti-microbial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes or prevent the growth of microbes...
agent. It was isolated in 1949 from the microbial organism Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus of the genus Aspergillus, and is one of the most common Aspergillus species to cause disease in individuals with an immunodeficiency....
.
In animals
It was originally used against microsporidial parasites Nosema apisNosema apis
Nosema apis is a microsporidian, a small, unicellular parasite that mainly affects honey bees. It causes nosemosis, also called nosema, which is the most widespread of adult honey bee diseases. The dormant stage of Nosema apis is a long lived spore which is resistant to temperature extremes and...
and Nosema ceranae infections in honey bee
Honey bee
Honey bees are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. Honey bees are the only extant members of the tribe Apini, all in the genus Apis...
s.
Some studies found it to be effective against some myxozoa
Myxozoa
The Myxozoa are a group of parasitic animals of aquatic environments. Over 1300 species have been described and many have a two-host lifecycle, involving a fish and an annelid worm or bryozoan. The average size of a Myxosporea spore usually ranges from 10 μm to 20 μm and Malacosporea up...
n parasites, including Myxobolus cerebralis
Myxobolus cerebralis
Myxobolus cerebralis is a myxosporean parasite of salmonids that causes whirling disease in farmed salmon and trout and also in wild fish populations...
, an important parasite of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
; however, in the more rigorous tests required for U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
approval, it was ineffective.
There are reports that fumagillin controls Nosema ceranae
Nosema ceranae
Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian, a small, unicellular parasite that mainly affects Apis cerana, the Asiatic honey bee. It may cause nosemosis, also called nosema...
, which has recently been hypothesized as a possible cause of colony collapse disorder
Colony Collapse Disorder
Colony collapse disorder is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of...
.
Fumagillin is also investigated as an inhibitor of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
parasite growth.
In humans
Fumagillin has been used in the treatment of microsporidiosisMicrosporidiosis
Microspridiosis is an opportunistic intestinal infection that causes diarrhea and wasting in immunocompromised individuals . It results from different species of microsporidia, a group of microbial fungi....
. It is also an amebicide
Amebicide
An amebicide is an agent used in the treatment of amoebozoa infections.Among these agents are the following, linked to the infections they are used to treat:...
.
Fumagillin can block blood vessel formation by binding to an enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
called methionine aminopeptidase 2. and for this reason, the compound, together with semisynthetic derivatives, are investigated as a angiogenesis inhibitor
Angiogenesis inhibitor
An angiogenesis inhibitor is a substance that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels . Some angiogenesis inhibitors are a normal part of the body's control, some are administered as drugs, and some come from diet....
in the treatment of cancer.
Preliminary clinical trials are being conducted by Zafgen into using the fumagillin analog
Analog (chemistry)
In chemistry, a structural analog , also known as chemical analog or simply analog, is a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect of a certain component. It can differ in one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures, which are replaced...
beloranib
Beloranib
Beloranib is an experimental drug candidate for the treatment of obesity. It was discovered by CKD Pharmaceuticals and is currently being developed by Zafgen....
for weight loss.
Total synthesis
Fumagillin and the related fumagillol (the hydrolysis product) have been a target in total synthesisTotal synthesis
In organic chemistry, a total synthesis is, in principle, the complete chemical synthesis of complex organic molecules from simpler pieces, usually without the aid of biological processes. In practice, these simpler pieces are commercially available in bulk and semi-bulk quantities, and are often...
, with several reported successful strategies, racemic, asymmetric and formal.