Journal of Fungi (Nov 2020)

Overview of Antifungal Drugs against Paracoccidioidomycosis: How Do We Start, Where Are We, and Where Are We Going?

  • Lívia do Carmo Silva,
  • Amanda Alves de Oliveira,
  • Dienny Rodrigues de Souza,
  • Katheryne Lohany Barros Barbosa,
  • Kleber Santiago Freitas e Silva,
  • Marcos Antonio Batista Carvalho Júnior,
  • Olívia Basso Rocha,
  • Raisa Melo Lima,
  • Thaynara Gonzaga Santos,
  • Célia Maria de Almeida Soares,
  • Maristela Pereira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040300
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 4
p. 300

Abstract

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Paracoccidioidomycosis is a neglected disease that causes economic and social impacts, mainly affecting people of certain social segments, such as rural workers. The limitations of antifungals, such as toxicity, drug interactions, restricted routes of administration, and the reduced bioavailability in target tissues, have become evident in clinical settings. These factors, added to the fact that Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) therapy is a long process, lasting from months to years, emphasize the need for the research and development of new molecules. Researchers have concentrated efforts on the identification of new compounds using numerous tools and targeting important proteins from Paracoccidioides, with the emphasis on enzymatic pathways absent in humans. This review aims to discuss the aspects related to the identification of compounds, methodologies, and perspectives when proposing new antifungal agents against PCM.

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