RESUMO
La candidiasis vulvovaginal es una antigua enfermedad que aún en el mundo moderno continúa presentando una elevada incidencia. A pesar de los avances terapéuticos no existen siempre tratamientos efectivos y nuestro conocimiento sobre la patogenia de esta micosis es todavía incompleto. El presente artículo discute los avances más sobresalientes relacionados con los factores de virulencia del hongo, el papel de los mecanismos inmunológicos involucrados en la protección vaginal y los defectos genéticos responsables de la recurrencia de esta micosis. Los tratamientos actuales, el uso de nuevos agentes con actividad antifúngica y el desarrollo de estrategias como la vacunación son abordados en el contexto del complejo escenario que rigen las interacciones entre Candida y su hospedador (AU)
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an old disease that, even in a modern world, continues to have a high incidence. Despite the therapeutic advances, treatments are not always effective, and our understanding of the pathogenesis of this fungal infection is still incomplete. A discussion is presented in this article on the most significant developments related to the fungal virulence factors, the role of the immunological mechanisms involved in the vaginal protection, and the genetic alterations that confer susceptibility to the recurrent form of this mycosis. Current treatments, the use of new agents with antifungal activity, as well as the development of strategies, such as vaccination, are approached in the context of the complex scenario that governs the interactions between Candida and its host (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Candidíase Vulvovaginal/epidemiologia , Candida/patogenicidade , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Vacinas Fúngicas , Fatores de Risco , Candida albicans/patogenicidade , Inflamação/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an old disease that, even in a modern world, continues to have a high incidence. Despite the therapeutic advances, treatments are not always effective, and our understanding of the pathogenesis of this fungal infection is still incomplete. A discussion is presented in this article on the most significant developments related to the fungal virulence factors, the role of the immunological mechanisms involved in the vaginal protection, and the genetic alterations that confer susceptibility to the recurrent form of this mycosis. Current treatments, the use of new agents with antifungal activity, as well as the development of strategies, such as vaccination, are approached in the context of the complex scenario that governs the interactions between Candida and its host.
