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

Autor(es):Mostrar menos -

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]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[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

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: Mycopathologia; v. 186, n. 3, p. 327-340, JUN 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

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)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/23435-8 - Mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na resistência e na resposta adaptativa a inibidores fúngicos
• Beneficiário: Tamires Aparecida Bitencourt
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 19/22596-9 - Mecanismos moleculares associados à patogenicidade e resistência em fungos: estratégias para o tratamento de dermatofitoses
• Beneficiário: Nilce Maria Martinez-Rossi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 18/15458-6 - Splicing alternativo em genes codificadores de HSPs como resposta a antifúngicos no dermatófito Trichophyton rubrum
• Beneficiário: João Neves da Rocha Fonseca
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 18/11319-1 - Fatores de transcrição e sinalização celular.
• Beneficiário: Maíra Pompeu Martins
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 09/08411-4 - Caracterização funcional de genes do fungo patogênico Trichophyton rubrum durante o processo de interação com células e moléculas do microambiente hospedeiro.
• Beneficiário: Nalu Teixeira de Aguiar Peres
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado