The other side of the fungi… Cyclosporin A

Lately, it seems, stories in the news about mold highlight the “hidden dangers” of mold’s human interactions. To be sure, mycotoxins [chemicals secreted by mold as defense mechanisms] from a handful of molds can cause symptoms ranging from itchy eyes and sore throats to, in rare instances, lymphoma. But, for a moment, let’s talk about one of the more positive uses for “toxic” mold substances: organ transplantation.

It is well known that antibiotics often are the by-product of molds. Penicillin and Cephalosporin are two common antibiotics which are mycotoxins of molds. Antibiotics, discovered in the Twentieth century, have revolutionized medical treatments around the world. But in the last two decades, an new use for specific mycotoxin has again made great advances for the medical community. Cyclosporin A, the mycotoxin of the mold tolypocladium inflatum has been used for the last twenty years in organ transplant patients.

Cyclosporin A is an immune suppressant. In organ transplant, the host body identifies the new organ as a foreign body and the immune system attacks that organ. To avoid this, patients take a combination of immune suppressant drugs. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, heart and lung transplant patients were living days, and sometimes only hours, after surgery. But, during this time, doctors started putting their patients on Cyclosporin A in addition to their other immune suppressants, and survival rates for transplant patients suddenly became years instead of days.

Cyclosporin in use in transplant patients does have its side effects. It can cause hair growth, shakiness, nausea, dizziness, hypertension, and in rare cases, cancer. Despite all of these side effects, however, this dangerous mycotoxin is helping patients live longer, healthier lives.