Antifungal medications

Definition

Antifungal medications are pharmaceutical agents used to treat and prevent mycoses, which are fungal infections. They work by targeting various components of fungal cells, such as cell membranes or enzymes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Antifungal medications can be classified into several groups, including azoles, polyenes, allylamines, and echinocandins.
2. Azoles inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes.
3. Polyenes bind to ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane, creating pores that lead to cell death.
4. Echinocandins inhibit the synthesis of beta-glucan, a critical component of the fungal cell wall.
5. Some common antifungal drugs include fluconazole (an azole), amphotericin B (a polyene), and caspofungin (an echinocandin).

Review Questions

• What is the primary mechanism of action for azole antifungals?
• Name two classes of antifungal medications and describe their mechanisms of action.
• What component of the fungal cell do polyene antifungals target?

Related terms

Mycoses: Fungal infections affecting humans and animals.

Ergosterol:

A key component in fungal cell membranes targeted by many antifungal drugs.

Beta-Glucan: A polysaccharide found in fungal cell walls that is inhibited by echinocandins.