Antifúngicos

Amphotericin A is a polyene macrolide antibiotic, which is derived primarily from the soil bacterium *Streptomyces nodosus*. This compound functions by binding to ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This binding creates pores in the membrane, increasing its permeability and ultimately leading to cell death. Unlike its more widely used counterpart Amphotericin B, Amphotericin A is less frequently utilized but is critical in the study and understanding of antifungal activity.

Ciclopirox is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that is used to treat onychomycosis of fingernails and toenails in immunocomprised patients. Ciclopirox has been shown to work by binding to polyvalent metal cations such Al3+ and Fe3+. These cations interfere with cellular processes including mitochondrial electron transport and energy synthesis by inhibiting numerous enzymes, including cytochromes. Additionally, the plasma membrane of fungi appears to be altered by ciclopirox as well, leading to the disorder of internal structures.

Amorolfine is an antifungal drug that inhibits fungal enzymes (D14 reductase and D7-D8 isomerase). Its inhibition has an affect on fungal sterol synthesis pathways, and it depletes ergosterol. This drug can be used as a treatment for inflammatory lesions such as Tinea corporis, Tinea pedis, and Tinea cruris due to its ability to penetrate the skin barrier with ease.

Atovaquone is an antimicrobial drug that is used for the treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. This drug is an analog of ubiquinone and has good in vitro activity against Toxoplasma gondii.

Delafloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic with action on bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV and is used for treating acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

Caspofungin is an echinocandin that belongs to the class of antifungal agents. It is used to treat Aspergillus and Candida infections. It works by inhibiting the synthesis of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of Aspergillus species and Candida species.

Posaconazole is an antifungal agent that inhibits the 14-alpha demethylase enzyme which is responsible for the synthesis of the fungal cell wall component, ergosterol. This demethylase enzyme synthesizes ergosterol through converting lanosterol to ergosterol. Therefore Posaconazole prevents the formation of fungal cell walls with the appropriate membrane permeability thus leading to fungal cell lysis. Posaconazole can be used as an antifungal drug to treat opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients. Moreover it is shown to inflict its inhibitory activity against common pathogenic fungus such as Candida and Aspergillus species but also Mucorales and some Fusarium species, which are less common.