Antifungal activity of flavonoids and modulation of expression of genes of fatty acid synthesis in the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum

Abstract

Background Dermatophytosis are fungal infections caused by keratinophilic fungi known as dermatophytes and classified in three genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum. Trichophyton rubrum is the most frequent species associated to dermatophytosis worldwide [1]. The infections caused by dermatophytes are not lethal, but are difficult to treat and uncomfortable. In the case of T. rubrum, they tend to be chronic, and although the superficial infections are more common, cases of deep infection have been reported in immunocompromised patients [2][3]. The number of antifungal drugs are still limited, and the acquired resistance for some of clinical antifungal have been shown as well as the side effects that have been promoted by them. Reasons for the challenge in development of new antifungal drugs are the similarities shared by fungal and mammalian cells and the lack of knowledge about the biology of these pathogens. Recent evidences have shown that the fatty acid sinthase (FAS) is an interesting antifungal target [4] because of marked differences between human and fungal cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of four flavonoids described as FAS inhibitors and verify the modulation of genes in the pathway of fatty acid synthesis in T. rubrum growth in presence of the most effective one as FAS inhibitor.