Women Scientists from IIT Delhi Develops Improved Treatment for Fungal Keratitis in Farmers

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 8 July 2021

An all-female team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi has devised a method to improve an existing anti-fungal drug that could aid in the treatment of a fungal eye infection that primarily affects farmers.

Farmers, according to the IIT Delhi team, are prone to vegetative trauma to the eye, which is typically caused by infected vegetable matter such as plant leaves. Fungal infection of the cornea in the eyes, also known as fungal keratitis, is frequently caused by vegetative trauma.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fungal keratitis can result in blindness in one eye, and the infection can also be caused by the use of contact lenses.

According to a study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal in October 2020, southern Asia has the highest annual incidence of this fungal infection per 1 lakh people. Furthermore, India accounts for more than half of all fungal keratitis cases.

Drugs currently available for fungal keratitis, according to the researchers, are less effective, particularly in severe disease. For example, Natamycin, which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is poorly absorbed by cells and has a low efficacy.

It necessitates prolonged and frequent dosing, which causes patients discomfort.

However, a study led by Professor Archana Chugh of IIT Delhi's Kusuma School of Biological Sciences successfully developed a method to attach a novel peptide to the drug molecule, increasing the drug's effectiveness. A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, which are also used to construct proteins.

“These peptides are known to have the ability to carry molecules with them in the cells. Therefore, when poorly permeable Natamycin was attached to the peptide, the formed complex showed better antifungal effect,” said Chugh in a statement.

For the study, she collaborated with her PhD students Aastha Jain, Harsha Rohira, and Sujithra Shankar. Dr. Sushmita G. Shah, an ophthalmologist and Cornea Specialist at Dr. CM Shah Memorial Charitable Trust and Eye Life in Mumbai, was also a member of the research team.

“Collaboration between Clinicians and Scientists is important to develop newer and better drugs, diagnostic devices, etc., which can improve patient care. We are very excited with the results obtained so far and look forward to initiating a clinical trial with the participation of the industry and other relevant agencies,” said Dr Shah.