Epidemiology and Diagnostic Perspectives of Dermatophytoses.

Dermatophytoses affect about 25% of the world population, and the filamentous fungus is the main causative agent of this group of diseases. Dermatomycoses are caused by pathogenic fungi that generally trigger superficial infections and that feed on keratinized substrates such as skin, hair, and nails. However, there are an increasing number of reports describing dermatophytes that invade deep layers such as the dermis and hypodermis and that can cause deep infections in diabetic and immunocompromised patients, as well as in individuals with immunodeficiency.

Expression of genes containing tandem repeat patterns involved in the fungal-host interaction and in the response to antifungals in Trichophyton rubrum.

Background: Trichophyton rubrum is the most common aetiological agent of human dermatophytoses. These infections mainly occur in keratinised layers such as skin, hair and nails because the fungus uses keratin as a nutrient source. Fluconazole and amphotericin are antifungal agents most commonly used to treat dermatophytoses and acts on cell membrane ergosterol.

Caffeic acid and licochalcone A interfere with the glyoxylate cycle of Trichophyton rubrum.

Trichophyton rubrum is the most common causative agent of dermatomycoses worldwide. Despite the increasing incidence of fungal infections, the number of commercially available antifungal drugs is limited, mainly because of the biochemical similarities between fungal and mammalian cells. Biomolecules of different origins might lead to the discovery of new pharmacological targets that are more specific to the fungal cell.