THURSDAY, March 11 (HealthDayNews) -- A protease-inhibitor cocktail increases the anti-microbial action of promising new peptides that kill several medically important fungi, some of which are resistant to current drugs, says a University at Buffalo study. The cocktail protects the peptides by inactivating enzymes programmed to destroy the peptides. This protection lets the peptides more than double their anti-microbial activity, the study found. Mike in BrazilThe findings were presented March 11 at the International Association of Dental Research meeting in Hawaii. 8th street latinas One peptide in particular, MUC7 12-mer, has shown particular promise for treating drug-resistant fungi. This peptide is a piece of a larger, naturally occurring human salivary mucin molecule. The researchers note there are only a handful of drugs available to treat fungal infections. The advent of drug-resistant fungal infections poses a special risk to people with depressed immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS, and organ-transplant and chemotherapy patients.