Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

Emerging azole antifungals

Anne Chen1, Jack D Sobel

  • 1Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, 3990 Harper Street, 5 Hudson, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs
|March 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

New triazole antifungals show broad-spectrum activity against resistant fungal infections, offering hope for treating immunocompromised patients. This review covers emerging azole antifungals in development and their future potential.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Fungal infections are a growing global health concern, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Existing antifungal treatments face challenges due to increasing drug resistance and a rising high-risk population.
  • There is a critical need for novel, safe, and effective therapies for systemic fungal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging azole antifungal agents.
  • To discuss their clinical development and spectrum of activity.
  • To evaluate their future prospects in combating fungal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical investigations and development phases of new azole antifungals.
  • Analysis of reported activity against resistant fungal pathogens.
  • Synthesis of current data on voriconazole, posaconazole, ravuconazole, and albaconazole.

Main Results:

  • A new generation of triazoles (voriconazole, posaconazole, ravuconazole, albaconazole) is in clinical development.
  • These agents exhibit broad-spectrum activity, including against previously resistant fungal strains.
  • They represent promising therapeutic options for systemic fungal infections.

Conclusions:

  • Emerging azole antifungals offer a vital advancement in treating difficult fungal infections.
  • These drugs are crucial for managing infections in the immunocompromised population.
  • Continued research and development are essential to expand the arsenal against fungal diseases.

More Related Videos

Small-Scale Plasma Membrane Preparation for the Analysis of Candida albicans Cdr1-mGFPHis09:44

Small-Scale Plasma Membrane Preparation for the Analysis of Candida albicans Cdr1-mGFPHis

Published on: June 13, 2021

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Antiprotozoal Agents01:21

Antiprotozoal Agents

Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Anthelminthic Agents01:15

Anthelminthic Agents

Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...