BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF MALASSEZIA FUNGI AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DERMATOSES (LITERATURE REVIEW)

The article is devoted to the review of native and foreign medical literature which reflects the current state of etiopathogenetic aspects of Malassezia infection in the development of chronic inflammatory dermatoses. Data on the frequency of detection of Malassezia fungi depending on the geographical distribution, skin pathology and the level of sensitization of the organism are given. Pathogenicity factors that can affect the course of the disease are indicated. In-depth coverage of the relationship between these opportunistic fungi and the host emphasizes the role of malassezia in the development of chronic inflammatory dermatoses. It has been determined that opportunistic fungi of the genus Malassezia play an indisputable role in the occurrence of a sufficient number of dermatoses. The group of such dermatoses includes tinea versicolor (TV), seborrheic dermatitis, papillomatosis effusiva and reticular papillomatosis. A certain pathogenetic role of Malassezia infection in cases of scalp psoriasis is also recognized. Until recently, it was believed that fungi of the genus Malassezia cause only TV (synonyms: tinea versicolor, tinea flava), a disease that belongs to keratomycoses. In keratomycoses, pathogens affect the hair cuticle and part of the stratum corneum of the skin epidermis. RL manifests itself in the form of hypo- or hyperpigmented spots on the skin of the body or extremities. Depigmentation is caused by the inhibition of tyrosinase activity, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin. Sometimes fungemia is observed, which is caused by mechanical introduction of fungi with catheters, especially when intravenous solutions containing lipids are administered. The manifestations of such fungemia are usually fever, sometimes thrombocytopenia, but it can also be asymptomatic. In very rare cases, the circulation of fungi in the bloodstream can lead to the develop.