Echinocandins are a class of antifungal drugs[1] that inhibit the synthesis of β-glucan in the fungal cell wall via noncompetitive inhibition of the enzyme 1,3-β glucan synthase.[2][3] The class has been dubbed the "penicillin of antifungals,"[4] along with the related papulacandins, as their mechanism of action resembles that of penicillin in bacteria. β-glucans are carbohydrate polymers that are cross-linked with other fungal cell wall components, the fungal equivalent to bacterial peptidoglycan. Caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin are semisynthetic echinocandin derivatives with limited clinical use due to their solubility, antifungal spectrum, and pharmacokinetic properties.[5]
- ^ Denning, DW (June 2002). "Echinocandins: a new class of antifungal". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 49 (6): 889–91. doi:10.1093/jac/dkf045. PMID 12039879.
- ^ Morris MI, Villmann M (September 2006). "Echinocandins in the management of invasive fungal infections, part 1". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 63 (18): 1693–703. doi:10.2146/ajhp050464.p1. PMID 16960253.
- ^ Morris MI, Villmann M (October 2006). "Echinocandins in the management of invasive fungal infections, Part 2". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 63 (19): 1813–20. doi:10.2146/ajhp050464.p2. PMID 16990627.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
JenniferLong2003was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Debono M, Gordee RS (1994). "Antibiotics that inhibit fungal cell wall development". Annual Review of Microbiology. 48: 471–97. doi:10.1146/annurev.mi.48.100194.002351. PMID 7826015.