Immunocompromised hosts: immunopharmacology of modern antifungals.

Abstract

In addition to their in vitro inhibitory and fungicidal effects, modern antifungal agents interact in vivo with host immune functions involved in defense against fungal pathogens. The nature of such interactions is diverse and depends on the drug, the immunological status of the host, and the fungal pathogen. Given the prominent role of the host's immune response in controlling invasive fungal infection, immunomodulation by antifungal drugs may prove to be clinically significant. Elucidation of the immunopharmacology of these drugs may aid in designing therapeutic regimens for specific clinical scenarios associated with defined immunological dysfunction.