Amphotericin B is an anti-fungal drug that is injected intravenously and travels to the target cell through the blood where it is transported into the cell so it can target the fungal cells. It is most effective against candida albicans, but still somewhat effective against other fungal species. This drug has no effect on bacteria, rickettsiae, and viruses. It is used to treat fungal infections in Neutropenic patients, cryptococcal meningitis in HIV infection, fungal infections, and leishmaniasis. It has shown high activity in vitro, but mechanisms in the body are more unknown. Amphotericin B, unlike other anti-fungal drugs, does not target Lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase or the synthesis of ergosterol. Instead it targets Ergosterol itself by binding to it in the cell membrane. This binding creates a transmembrane channel that increases membrane permeability which causes intracellular components to leak out of the cell. Eventually the binding of ergosterol causes a loss in membrane integrity which ergosterol maintains and the cell dies. Ergosterol is also required to synthesize new membranes so the fungal cell cannot make new fungal cells.

Amphotericin B Pathway References