Antifungal Drug Classification
Introduction
The number of antifungal agents used to treat mycotic infections has been on the rise, though, they are still limited. Usually, they are fraught with one or more limitations, such as severe side effects, a narrow poor penetration of certain tissues, antifungal spectrum, and the emergence of resistant fungi due to drug pressure.
Finding suitable fungal targets is difficult because fungi, like humans, are eukaryotes. Many of the cellular and molecular processes are similar, and there is often extensive homology among the genes and proteins.
The classes of currently available drugs include the polyenes (amphotericin B and nystatin), which bind to ergosterol in the cell membrane; flucytosine, a pyrimidine analog; the azoles and other inhibitors of ergosterol synthesis, such as the allylamines; the echinocandins, which inhibit the synthesis of cell wall β-glucan; and griseofulvin, which interferes with microtubule assembly.
Currently under investigation are inhibitors of cell wall synthesis, such as nikkomycin and pradimicin, and sordarin, which inhibits elongation factor 2.
Below is a PowerPoint (pptx) presentation of Antifungal drug and their modes of action:
