Host defenses in subcutaneous mycoses.
Subcutaneous mycoses include diverse clinical syndromes, characterized by invasion of the skin and subcutaneous tissue by saprobic fungi. Individuals living in rural areas constantly suffer lesions or trauma; however, only a few of them develop disease. In this contribution, we describe recent advances in the understanding of the virulence of these organisms, focusing on the most prevalent infections, sporotrichosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma. Although these infectious diseases are considered neglected tropical diseases, modern molecular techniques have been able to identify the etiologic agents and observe variations in the former monolithic concept of the species, which was based mostly on morphologic characteristics. The complete genetic characterization of the causative agents, along with that of their host, will help in the understanding of the factors on which the development of these infections depends.
Department of Dermatology, Dr. Jose E. Gonzalez University Hospital, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Ave Madero y Ave Gonzalitos s/n, Colonia Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. luvera_99@yahoo.com
Lucio
L
Vera-Cabrera
Mario Cesar
MC
Salinas-Carmona
Noemi
N
Waksman
Jonathan
J
Messeguer-Pérez
Jorge
J
Ocampo-Candiani
Oliverio
O
Welsh
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002862:Chromoblastomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012423:Rural Health; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors