Anti-fungal & Anti-parasitic Drugs; Algae Flashcards
Anti-fungal Targets:
- Ergosterol synthesis
- Cell wall synthesis
- Cell division
- Nucleic acid synthesis
3 Classes of Drugs Targeting Ergosterol:
- Polyenes
- Azoles
- Allylamines
Polyenes
- Amphotericin B
- Nystatin
Amphotericin B
Produced by Streptomyces nodosus
Binds ergosterol
- Increases cell membrane permeability
- Causes cell lysis
Systemic fungal infections
- IV over long periods
Adverse side effects (very toxic):
1. Renal toxicity (monitor kidney function)
2. Chills/fever
3. Inflammation of vein (phlebitis)
Less toxic lipid formulations also given
Nystatin
Binds ergosterol
- Increases cell membrane permeability
- Causes cell lysis
Used to treat:
1. Oral & esophageal infections
(oral, esophageal, gastric candidiasis)
2. Vaginal candidiasis (topical)
NOT used systemically
Azoles
Chemically synthesized drugs
Inhibit cytochrome P450 14a-demethylase (P45014DM)
- Enzyme in sterol biosynthesis pathway (lanosterol –> ergosterol)
- Depletion of ergosterol
- Increased membrane permeability
Azole Drugs
Imidazoles:
1. Ketoconazole
2. Mixonazole & Clotrimazole
Triazoles (less toxic):
1. Fluconazole
2. Itraconazole
3. Posaconzale
OTC:
1. Ketoconazole
2. Clotrimazole
3. Miconazole
Ketoconazole
(Imidazole)
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
Adverse side effects:
1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Hepatotoxicity
4. Inhibition of testosterone
Miconazole & Clotrimazole
(Imidazole)
Topical fungal infections
- Cutaneous candidiasis
- Tinea versicolor
- Dermatophytosis
(tinea pedis, tinea corporis, etc.)
Fluconazole
(Triazole)
Cutaneous & vaginal candidiasis (Diflucan - pink pill)
Systemic candidiasis & cryptomeningitis
Most commonly used
Itraconazole
(Triazole)
Broad-spectrum anti-fungal
Spectrum of activity includes:
1. Chromoblastomycosis
2. Histoplasmosis
3. Coccidioidomycosis
4. Blastomycosis
Posaconzale
(Triazole)
Excellent activity against:
Candida & Aspergillus
OTC Azoles
Superficial skin infections or vaginal candidiasis
- Ketoconazole
- Clotrimazole
- Miconazole
Allylamines
Inhibition of squalene epoxidase
- Essential step in ergosterol synthesis
(squalene –> lanosterol –> ergosterol)
Dermatophyte infections
(superficial skin infections)
- Chronic tinea pedis
- Tinea corporis
- Naftitine (topical)
- Terbinafine (topical & oral)
Echinocandins
Capsofungin
Target cell wall synthesis
- Inhibits beta-1,3 glucan synthesis
(inhibits secretion of subunits)
- Depletion of cell wall component
(falls apart)
Candida & Aspergillus infections
Griseofulvin
Produced by Penicillium species
Targets cell division
- Disrupts spindle formation
- Prevents mitosis
Taken orally for months
- Becomes concentrated in dead keratinized layers of skin
- Inhibits growth (fungus takes up)
Ringworm of skin, nails, hair
- Trichophyton spp.
- Epiderophyton spp.
- Microsporum spp.
NOT effective against:
- Superficial candidiasis
- Tinea versicolor
Flucytosine
Targets nucleic acid synthesis
- Replaces uracil with 5-fluorouracil in fungal RNA (chain inhibitor)
- Inhibits protein synthesis (transcription)
Candidiasis & cryptococcosis
- Used synergistically with Amphotericin B
Anti-protozoan Drugs
- Intestinal/urogenital protozoa
- Anti-malarial drugs
- Trypanosomiasis & Leishmaniasis
- African Sleeping Sickness
- Chaga’s Disease
Metronidazole
Flagyl (trade name)
Activated by anaerobic metabolism
Interferes with electron transport & alters DNA (either paralyses or kills)
Used against intestinal/urogenital protozoa:
1. Entamoeba histolytica
2. Giardia lamblia
3. Trichomonas vaginalis
4 Types of Malaria
- P. vivax
- P. ovale
- P. malariae
- P. falciparum
Anti-Malarial Drugs
Persistent malaria:
1. Primaquine-Sulfadoxine
2. Quinocide
Acute malaria:
1. Chloroquine
2. Amodiaquine
3. Mefloquine
Artemisin
(traditional Chinese medine)
Persistent Malaria
Exo-erythrocyte cycle
Infection of liver cells
- Enter hepatocytes via blood
- Undergo at least 1 liver stage
- Release merozoites into blood
Primaquine-Sulfadoxine
Targets liver stage
Kills liver holdouts
- Prevents recurrences of P. vivax & P. ovale
Destroys gametes
- Prevents reinfections of Anopheles mosquitoes
Treats chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum
Quinocide
Same drug family as Primaquine
Targets liver stage
Acute Malaria
Erythrocytic cycle
Merozoites infect RBCs (& lyse)
Chloroquine
(& derivatives)
Prevents crystallization of heme in RBCs
- Makes RBCs uninhabitable
- Destroys parasites
Mainly active against merozoites (of all 4 species)
Most prescribed anti-malarial drug
- Begin taking before & after travel to prevent malaria
- Only effects parasites that come out of liver
Amodiaquine
Mainly active against merozoites (of all 4 species)
EXCEPT: chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum
Mefloquine
Most effective
- Prophylaxis & treatment of acute malaria
Artemisin
Nobel Prize Medicine 2015
Isolated from Traditional Chinese medicine
- Plant (Artemesia annua)
Generates free radicals within parasite
- Damages membrane
- Definitive target unknown
Very effective BUT resistance growing
Other ways to control malaria:
- Insecticides & repellents (with DEET)
- Mosquito nets
- Proper clothing
African Sleeping Sickness Drugs
(Trypanosomiasis & Leishmaniasis)
Treatment depends on stage
- Suramin
- Does NOT cross BBB
- Not effective once parasite crossed into CNS (begins showing symptoms) - Melarsoprol
- Arsenical compound
- Crosses BBB
- EXTREMELY toxic
Chaga’s Disease Drugs
(Trypanosomiasis & Leishmaniasis)
Acute stage:
1. Nifrutimox
2. Benzonidaxole
NO treatment against chronic stage
(most people don’t get this stage)
Anti-Helminth Drugs
- Intestinal nematodes
- Mebendazole, thiabendazole, albendazole
- Pyrantel pamoate
- Piperanzine - Filariasis
- Ivermectin
Intestinal Nematodes
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Necator americanus
- Enterobius vermicularis
- Trichuris trichiura
- Stronglyoides stercoralis
Intestinal Nematode Drugs
- Mebendazole, thiabendazole, albendazole
- Paralyze worms (passed out in stool) - Pyrantel pamoate
- Paralyze worms - Piperazine
- Paralyze worms
Other drugs irritate worms
- Migrate out of small intestine to other organs (can be fatal)
Ivermectin
Effective against filariasis
- River blindness (Onchocerca)
- Elephantiasis (Wuchereria)
Binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels
- Increases Cl- permeability
- Paralyzes worms
Nobel Prize Medicine 2015
Commonly used as anti-worm for horses
Algae differ from other photosynthetic organisms:
- Lack organized vascular system
- Simple reproductive system
Methods of Algae Classification:
- Principal photosynthetic pigment
- Cell wall structure
- Type of storage products
- Mechanisms of motility
- Mode of reproduction
Color Classification of Algae:
- Chlorophytes - green algae
- Rhodophyta - red algae
- Chrysophyta - golden brown algae & diatoms
- Phaeophyta - brown algae
Unicellular Algae
(Microscopic Algae)
- Diatoms
- Some green algae
- Dinoflagellates
- Euglenids
- Few red algae
Specialized Structures of Macroscopic Algae
- Holdfast
- Anchors organism to substrate - Stipe
- Stalk of algae - Bladders
- Gas-filled (helps float on surface)
- Maximizes exposure of blades to sunlight - Blades
- Leaf-like structures attached to stipe
- Sites of photosynthesis
Algae Cell Wall Components:
- Cellulose
(often associated with pectin) - Carragreen
- Agar
- Silicon dioxide
Algae Cell Structures:
- Nucleus
- Chloroplasts
(photosynthesis) - Mitochondria
(respiration & oxidative phosphorylation)
Algae Reproduction
Asexual
1. Binary fission
- Single-celled algae
- Mitosis
2. Fragmentation
- Multicellular filamentous species
Sexual
- Occurs regularly in most algae
- Haploid gametes fuse together & become diploid zygotes
Algae Toxin Production
“Red Tides”
Algal blooms
- Overgrowth of specific types of algae
Caused by several dinoflagellates in Group Pyyrophyta:
1. Karenia brevis
2. Gonyaulax species (Alexandrium fundyense)
Karenia brevis
(formerly Gymnodinium breve)
Algal blooms in Gulf of Mexico
Produces brevetoxin
- Neurotoxin
- Kills fish that feed on phytoplankton
Human ingests fish:
1. Tingling sensation in mouth/fingers
2. Reversal of hot/cold perceptions
3. Reduced pulse rate
4. Diarrhea
Rarely deadly (recovery in 2-3 days)
Gonyaulax species
Alexandrium fundyense
Blooms in Atlantic ocean (east coast USA)
Produces poisonous neurotoxins:
1. Saxitoxin
2. Gonyautoxin
Toxins accumulate in shellfish that feed on dinoflagellates
- Doesn’t cause harm
- Clams, mussels, scallops
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (human):
1. General numbness
2. Dizziness
3. Muscle weakness
4. Impaired respiration (death from respiratory failure)