Antifungals Flashcards
(68 cards)
Antifungal drugs mimic what?
many mimic enzymes homologous in fungi to mammals
What antifungal drugs are polyenes?
amphotericin B
What are the main features of amphotericin B?
amphoteric: has both acidic and basic groups
contains a liphophilic polyene region and a hydrophilic polyalcohol region - amphiphilic
is it a macrolide ring
fungicidal: perturbs membrane –> cell lysis
What is special about the structure of amphotericin B?
contains mycosamine: required for binding to ergosterol, but also binds to cholesterol (not good because we’re trying to target fungal cells, not human cells, so get a lot of toxicity)
hydroxyl group may complement pore formation in fungal cell membrane: ions + water can move across pores –> destabilizes and kills fungal cells
What is the MOA of amphotericin B?
binds to ergosterol - predominant sterol in fungal cell membranes
reason for specificity: mammalian cell membranes contain cholesterol
binding to ergosterol leads to intercalation of cell membrane –> membrane disrupted, ions leak, fungal cell dies because it’s destabilized
can also withdraw ergosterol from membrane: forms cage like structures to pull it out of membrane –> destabilization
What are the pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B?
poorly absorbed from GI tract because it’s so big: given IV!
oral amphotericin B only effective for GI infections; IV required for systemic infection
What are the adverse effects of amphotericin B?
pretty toxic
infusion-related: fever, chills, muscle spasms, vomiting, headache, hypotension - can be helped by reducing rate of infusion; premedicate with diphenhydramine and/or acetaminophen
renal damage: reversible component - reduced renal perfusion; irreversible component - renal tubular injury (usually after >4g administered)
What are the therapeutic applications of amphotericin B?
systemic infections - broad spectrum antimyotic
DOC for life-threatening fungal infections
superficial fungal infections: nystatin (polyene drug similar to amphotericin B)
Why do we use different amphotericin formulations?
use lipid formulations to decrease toxic side effects - nephrotoxicity
act as reservoir of amphotericin: lipids have intermediate affinity for amphotericin, higher than cholesterol, lower then ergosterol
amphotericin B colloidal dispersion, liposomal amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex
ambisome also reduces infusion toxicity (uses true liposomes)
What antifungal drugs are allylamines?
terbinafine
What is the MOA of terbinafine?
disrupts ergosterol synthesis by inhibiting squalene epoxidase enzyme
death of fungal cells results from accumulation of squalene (toxic) - fungicidal
What are the main features of terbinafine?
high selectivity for fungal enzyme compared to mammalian enzyme (low SEs)
What is terbinafine used for?
mainly effective against dermatophytes - skin + nail fungal infections
available for oral and topical administration
What antifungal drugs are azoles?
ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole, oteseconazole
What is the key feature of azoles?
5-membered aromatic ring
the nitrogen on the ring is essential for binding iron in CYP450 enzyme
What is the MOA of azoles?
inhibition of 14-alpha demethylase
fungistatic - stall + reduce growth of fungal cells
inhibits demethylase step and binds the iron; in CYP450, preventing the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol
build up of toxic sterols over time
What is the selectivity of azoles?
much more selective than amphotericin B
humans use same enzyme to make cholesterol for our cell membranes
fungal enzyme more sensitive, however azoles inhibit other mammalian CYP450s
What is the metabolism of azoles?
metabolized extensively by liver CYP450s - all metabolites are inactive
only those azoles with reduced metabolism are used for systemic infection
Ketoconazole
1st azole with sufficient oral bioavailability to be used clinically for deep tissue infections
based on miconazole but this one has a dioxolane ring on asymmetric carbon, reduced metabolism by CYP3A
Itraconazole
based on ketoconazole, but this one has a triazole instead of imidazole (3 nitrogens), modified substituent on diozolane ring; improved specificity for fungal P450 enzyme
Fluconazole
substantially modified from ketoconazole, this one has triazole in place of imidazole, F in place of Cl on benzene ring, hydroxyl and 2nd triazole on asymmetric carbon, dioxolane ring is eliminated
Voriconazole
based on fluconazole, maintains triazole, hydroxyl, and flourine substituents; 2nd triazole replaced with fluoropyrimidine ring
added methyl group - improves binding to fungal 14-alpha demethylase and increased spectrum
Posaconazole
derived from itraconazole, this one has a furan ring - alters and increases spectrum of activity, F replaces Cl
broad spectrum activity
available for oral and IV
Isavuconazole
this is a water soluble pro-drug - cyclodextrin not required for solubility; reduced nephrotoxicity relative to voriconazole
structurally similar to voriconazole
broad spectrum activity
long half-life