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Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

Polyene Macrolide Antibiotics and their Applications in Human Therapy

Author(s): Sergey B. Zotchev

Volume 10, Issue 3, 2003

Page: [211 - 223] Pages: 13

DOI: 10.2174/0929867033368448

Price: $65

Abstract

Fungal infections represent a serious problem for patients with immune systems compromized either by HIV infection, or administration of immunosuppressive drugs during cancer therapy and organ transplantation. High dissemination and proliferation rates of many pathogenic fungi along with their insusceptibility to common antimicrobial drugs urge implementation of efficient and reliable antifungal therapy. Up to date, polyene macrolide antibiotics proved to be the most effective antifungal agents due to their potent fungicidal activity, broad spectrum, and relatively low frequency of resistance among the fungal pathogens. However, polyene macrolides are rather toxic, causing such serious side effects as renal failure, hypokalemia and thrombophlebitis, especially upon intravenous administration. Current views on the biosynthesis of polyene macrolides, their mode of action and structure-function relationship, as well as strategies used to overcome the toxicity problem are discussed in this review. In addition, some of the new potential applications for polyene macrolides in therapy of prion diseases, HIV infection and cancer are highlighted.

Keywords: polyene macrolides, macrolide antibiotics, fungal infections


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