Wickerhamomyces Yeast Killer Toxins' Medical Applications

Possible implications and applications of the yeast killer phenomenon in the fight against infectious diseases are reviewed, with particular reference to some wide-spectrum killer toxins (KTs) produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus and other related species. A perspective on the applications of these KTs in the medical field is provided considering (1) a direct use of killer strains, in particular in the symbiotic control of arthropod-borne diseases; (2) a direct use of KTs as experimental therapeutic agents; (3) the production, through the idiotypic network, of immunological derivatives of KTs and their use as potential anti-infective therapeutics. Studies on immunological derivatives of KTs in the context of vaccine development are also described.

Automated summary

This review explores the potential implications and applications of the yeast killer phenomenon in combating infectious diseases, focusing on wide-spectrum killer toxins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus and related species. The study discusses the potential uses of these killer toxins in the medical field, such as using killer strains directly, utilizing killer toxins as therapeutic agents, and developing immunological derivatives of killer toxins for anti-infective therapeutics. It also describes research on immunological derivatives of killer toxins for vaccine development.