Reassessing the Use of Undecanoic Acid as a Therapeutic Strategy for Treating Fungal Infections

Author(s):Show less -

Rossi, Antonio ^[1] ; Martins, Maira P. ^[1] ; Bitencourt, Tamires A. ^[1] ; Peres, Nalu T. A. ^[2] ; Rocha, Carlos H. L. ^[1] ; Rocha, Flaviane M. G. ^[1] ; Neves-da-Rocha, Joao ^[1] ; Lopes, Marcos E. R. ^[1] ; Sanches, Pablo R. ^[1] ; Bortolossi, Julio C. ^[1] ; Martinez-Rossi, Nilce M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Genet, USP, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Biol Sci, Dept Microbiol, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Mycopathologia; v. 186, n. 3 APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Treating fungal infections is challenging and frequently requires long-term courses of antifungal drugs. Considering the limited number of existing antifungal drugs, it is crucial to evaluate the possibility of repositioning drugs with antifungal properties and to revisit older antifungals for applications in combined therapy, which could widen the range of therapeutic possibilities. Undecanoic acid is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with known antifungal effects; however, its antifungal properties have not been extensively explored. Recent advances indicate that the toxic effect of undecanoic acid involves modulation of fungal metabolism through its effects on the expression of fungal genes that are critical for virulence. Additionally, undecanoic acid is suitable for chemical modification and might be useful in synergic therapies. This review highlights the use of undecanoic acid in antifungal treatments, reinforcing its known activity against dermatophytes. Specifically, in Trichophyton rubrum, against which the activity of undecanoic acid has been most widely studied, undecanoic acid elicits profound effects on pivotal processes in the cell wall, membrane assembly, lipid metabolism, pathogenesis, and even mRNA processing. Considering the known antifungal activities and associated mechanisms of undecanoic acid, its potential use in combination therapy, and the ability to modify the parent compound structure, undecanoic acid shows promise as a novel therapeutic against fungal infections. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/08411-4 - Functional characterization of genes from the pathogenic fungus Trichophyton rubrum during interaction with host microenvironment cells and molecules.
• Grantee: Nalu Teixeira de Aguiar Peres
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/15458-6 - Alternative splicing in genes coding for HSPs as a response to antifungals in the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum
• Grantee: João Neves da Rocha Fonseca
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 18/11319-1 - Transcription factors and cell signaling.
• Grantee: Maíra Pompeu Martins
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/23435-8 - Molecular mechanisms involved in resistance and adaptive response to fungal inhibitors
• Grantee: Tamires Aparecida Bitencourt
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/22596-9 - Molecular mechanisms associated with pathogenicity and resistance in fungi: strategies for treating dermatophytosis
• Grantee: Nilce Maria Martinez-Rossi
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants