Antifungal
An antifungal is a drug or other agent that kills fungi or inhibits their growth. Antifungals are used to treat or prevent fungal infections.
Ergosterol: A sterol in fungal cell membranes that helps regulate membrane structure and function. Several major antifungal classes disrupt ergosterol or its production.
Dermatophyte infection: An infection of skin, hair, or nails caused by fungi that use keratin as a nutrient. Topical and oral antifungals are commonly selected to treat these infections.
Antibacterial drug: A drug that kills bacteria or inhibits their growth. Bacteria and fungi differ in cellular structure, so their drug targets and treatments differ.
Fungus: A eukaryotic organism belonging to a kingdom that includes yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Antifungals act on fungal organisms, whose cells share features with human cells.
Candida auris: A multidrug-resistant yeast that can cause invasive infections and spread in healthcare settings. Its resistance and outbreak potential expose gaps in antifungal treatment and infection control.
Azole antifungal: An antifungal drug that inhibits fungal sterol synthesis, usually by blocking lanosterol 14α-demethylase. Azoles reduce ergosterol and are widely used against fungal infections.
Candidiasis: An infection caused by Candida yeasts, ranging from localized disease to invasive bloodstream infection. Antifungal choice depends strongly on the infection site and Candida species.
Antiviral drug: A drug that interferes with viral replication or infection. Viruses rely on host cells, unlike fungi, which have their own druggable cellular machinery.
Mycosis: An infection or disease caused by a fungus. Antifungals are used against mycoses, which range from superficial to life-threatening.
Antifungal drug discovery: The search for and development of compounds that safely prevent or treat fungal disease. Few drug classes and shared host-fungal biology constrain the development of new therapies.