antifungal agent VL-2397

A cyclic hexapeptide and natural compound isolated from the Malaysian leaf litter fungus, Acremonium persicinium MF-347833, with potential antifungal activity against various invasive fungal infections including invasive aspergillosis (IA). Upon administration, VL-2397, by resembling the siderophore ferrichrome, is specifically taken up by fungal cells through the membrane-bound transporter siderophore iron transporter 1 (Sit; Sit1). Upon fungal cell entry, VL-2397 targets and binds to an as of yet undisclosed intracellular site, thereby killing fungal cells. Since mammalian cells lack the Sit1 transporter, VL-2397 is not taken up by human cells.