Page 148 - MNU-PM502- Pharmaeutical Microbiology Theoritical Book

Pharm D- Clinical Pharmacy Program Third Level Pharmaceutical Microbiology& Antimicrobials (PM 502)

Fungi

• Fungal infections (mycoses) range from common benign infections like 'jock itch'

to serious, life-threatening infections

• 'Antifungals: all chemical compounds, pharmacologic agents, and natural products
used to treat mycoses.

• both fungal and human cells are eukaryotic in structure.
• The similarity of fungal and mammalian cells creates a number of problems for
designing drugs that are selectively toxic to fungal cells but not the human host.

• There are few differences that can be exploited in order to achieve selective

toxicity towards fungi while leaving the human cells unharmed.

• Antifungal agents currently utilized for mycoses attack one of four targets in
fungal pathogens:

Cell Membrane

Cell wall

Nucleic acid Synthesis

Fungal cell mitosis
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