Antifungals Flashcards
What are the 2 forms of pathogenic fungi?
Filamentous fungi and yeast
What characterises yeast?
Divide by budding
What characterises filamentous fungi?
Elongated cells divided by cell walls. Divide by spores
Dimorphic fungi
Appear in yeast and filamentous form depending on environmental conditions
5 antifungal targets
cell wall cell membrane protein synthesis DNA synthesis Mitosis
What is the main component of fungal cell walls?
beta 1-3 glucan
What is cholesterol equivalent component in the cell membrane of fungi?
ergosterol
What is the function of ergosterol?
Regulation of membrane permeability
Describe the formation of ergosterol
Squalene>squalene epoxidase>lanosterol>lanosterol 14 alpha demethylase>ergosterol
beta 1-3 glucan is a large polymer of what?
UDP glucose
What enzyme synthesises beta 1-3 glucan?
beta 1-3 glucan synthase
What are the 4 classes of antifungals?
Polyenes
Allylamines
Azoles
Echinocondins
Give 2 examples of polyenes
Amphotericine B, Nystatin (not used anymore)
How do polyenes work?
Form pores in ergosterol membrane resulting in loss of membrane integrity and leakage of K+
Give 3 of fungi that AmB treats
Aspergillus
Candida
Crytococcus
Adverse effects of amphotericin B
allergic reactions
Nephrotoxicity- pores form in human cell membranes
How is amphotericin B administered for serios/systermic infections?
Parenterally
How do lipid-associated Amphotericin B antifungals work?
Combining AmB to lipids minimises its delivery to kidney cells and reduces nephrotoxicity
In what cases is nystatin used?
Superficial infections e.g. oral/vaginal candidiasis