What are the 'Keanu Revees' molecules that can kill 'bad boys' in your body?

Keanu Reeves has fought baddies in Hollywood blockbusters, but now he has a chemical named after him that can destroy fungi. Yes, you read this correctly. Researchers have discovered that a strong anti-microbial natural product is effective against fungal infections. This anti-microbial substance is named after Reeves. Let’s understand why the molecule is named after “The Matrix” star and how it can fight fungi. Also read: What is Zombie fungus Cordyceps, which has its reference in Disney+ Hotstar’s The Last Of Us? What is keanumycin? According to a new study published recently in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the compounds, named keanumycins, are efficient against fungi that cause disease in both plants and humans. Notably, there is an urgent need to develop new methods of combating microbial infections due to the rise in antimicrobial resistance. Fungal infections, along with antibiotic resistance, are a growing concern for human health, not only because of their zombie-like potential but because fungal infections are also a major source of crop losses in hundreds of plant species, according to a UK-based science website IFL Science. The research’s first author Dr Sebastian Götze, the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology said in a statement, “We have a crisis in anti-infectives. Many human-pathogenic fungi are now resistant to antimycotics – partly because they are used in large quantities in agricultural fields.” Also read: What is Cordyceps fungus, which Chinese Army intruded into Indian territory to find? How can it fight fungal infections? Researchers in the study have shown that the keanumycins work “effectively” against the plant pest Botrytis cinerea, which triggers grey mould rot in crops, causing immense harvest losses every year. The study also suggests that the active ingredient in the keanumycin molecules can suppress the growth of fungi that are harmful to human health, such as Candida albicans. Thus, this class of molecules can be an “environmentally friendly alternative” to chemical pesticides. It may also offer an alternative in the fight against drug-resistant fungi. Notably, Canada albicans were recently added to the World Health Organization’s list of “important priority” fungal diseases. Dr Götze said, “Many human-pathogenic fungi are now resistant to antimycotics (antifungal) – partly because they are used in large quantities in agricultural fields.” As a result, researchers have studied the effects of substances derived from bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas and discovered that many of these bacterial species are highly toxic to amoeba, which feed on bacteria. “Theoretically, the Keanumycin-containing supernatant from Pseudomonas cultures could be used directly for plants,” Dr Gotze said. [caption id=“attachment_12127332” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Grapes and strawberries are especially susceptible to grey mould rot, which keanumycin is effective against. Shutterstock[/caption] Also read: New drug resistant fungus claims 2 lives in Delhi: What you need to know about Aspergillus Lentulus Why is named after Keanu Reeves? Researchers from Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, said that the collection of molecules “kill so efficiently that we named them after Keanu Reeves because he, too, is extremely lethal in his roles,” reported Independent. The name is inspired by Reeves’ iconic portrayal of hitman John Wick. How do fungi affect human health? IFL Science explains that Canada albicans cause thrush, a common infection that frequently affects the mouth, throat, or genitals. It can produce a serious and sometimes deadly systemic infection in some patients, particularly those with compromised immune systems. According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, Fungal infections cause an estimated 1.7 million deaths per year. It has been referred to as “the silent crisis.” With few fungi-specific medications on the market, keanumycin could be an excellent starting point for the creation of new, much-needed treatments, reported IFL Science. With inputs from agencies Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.