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A recent study conducted by researchers at the University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi, India, focused on dermatophytes, which are pathogenic fungi that cause cutaneous infections in humans and animals. The study analyzed 160 samples from clinically diagnosed onychomycosis patients and found that Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum canis secrete metalloproteases, which are enzymes that break down proteins. The researchers also identified other enzymes, such as metallocarboxypeptidase, isocitrate lyase, citrate synthase, malate synthase, and dipeptidylpeptidase V, that are expressed in Trichophyton rubrum isolates from dermatophytosis patients. This research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of fungal infections and may contribute to the development of new treatments. [Extracted from the article]

As part of our continuing chemical and biological analyses of Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we isolated novel alkaloids 1 and 2, along with known compounds epicatechin, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid, from Galianthe ramosa. Alkaloid 2 inhibited malate synthase from the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides spp. This enzyme is considered an important molecular target because it is not found in humans. Molecular docking simulations were used to describe the interactions between the alkaloids and malate synthase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]