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