Antifungals

Terconazole is an azole antifungal agent with action on fungal cell membranes by inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis and is used for treating vaginal yeast infections.

Micafungin, as one of three echinocandina, has been proven to be a successful antifungal therapeutic in treating general Candida fungus infections. The treatment of immunocompromised patients is particularly important as Candida infections cause high mortality rates in patients in intensive care units, receiving chemotherapy, or stem cell transplants. This product acts as an anti-fungal by inhibiting the 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase enzyme. As a result the production of 1,3-beta-D-glucan, which is crucial to the fungal cell wall, is hindered. Thus, the fungal cell wall loses integrity allowing for osmotic instability and cell lysis to occur.

Voriconazole is a synthetic, lipophilic molecule that is used in the treatment of fungal infections. Voriconazole binds to ergosterol which is the major sterol in the cell wall of fungi and inhibits its synthesis, leading to cell death. This drug binds to the enzyme 14α-demethylase allowing the conversion of lanosterol into ergosterol. As a result, this binding leads to the inhibition of ergosterol synthesis, as well as other sterols that are necessary for fungal growth (e.g., squalene).

Abafungin is an antifungal agent and is used for treating fungal infections.

21-Norrapamycin is a macrocyclic lactone antibiotic, which is derived from the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Its chemical structure is closely related to that of rapamycin, a well-known immunosuppressant. The mode of action of 21-Norrapamycin involves the inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. By binding to the FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12), it forms a complex that then inhibits mTOR, a crucial regulator of cell growth, proliferation, and survival.

Malformin C is a cyclic pentapeptide, which is a secondary metabolite derived from certain strains of the fungus Aspergillus. Its mode of action involves disrupting cellular processes by interfering with cell division. Specifically, it is thought to affect mitotic spindle formation, leading to abnormal cell cycle progression.