The Plant Defensin Ppdef1 Is a Novel Topical Treatment for Onychomycosis.

ABSTRACT: Onychomycosis, or fungal nail infection, causes not only pain and discomfort but can also have psychological and social consequences for the patient. Treatment of onychomycosis is complicated by the location of the infection under the nail plate, meaning that antifungal molecules must either penetrate the nail or be applied systemically. Currently, available treatments are limited by their poor nail penetration for topical products or their potential toxicity for systemic products. Plant defensins with potent antifungal activity have the potential to be safe and effective treatments for fungal infections in humans. The cystine-stabilized structure of plant defensins makes them stable to the extremes of pH and temperature as well as digestion by proteases. Here, we describe a novel plant de

SUBMITTER: van der Weerden NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10672221 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature