Importance of advancing antifungal treatments: a focus on chitinases and glucanases in Candida therapy.

Abstract

Candida is one of the most prevalent fungal pathogens and a significant contributor to cutaneous infections. The manifestations vary depending on the nature of the symptoms and the site of infection. Its high incidence rate and associated morbidity, which can escalate to invasive diseases, underscore the need for more effective therapeutic approaches. The increasing prevalence and severity of Candida infections, coupled with the limitations of existing antifungal therapies, highlight the urgency for novel treatment strategies. Chitinases and glucanases are hydrolytic enzymes that target chitin and glucan polymers. These polymers constitute a major part of the fungal cell wall, giving these enzymes the potential to act as antifungals. The ability of these enzymes to break down such polymers is already being explored in other industries, yet their clinical potential for treating fungal infections remains underexplored. This review addresses the current landscape of cutaneous candidal infections and evaluates studies demonstrating the antifungal activity of chitinases and glucanases against Candida species.