Which drug class functions by exploiting differences between fungal and human cells to treat fungal infections?

The antifungal drug class is specifically designed to target fungal cells while minimizing effects on human cells. This is possible because fungi have unique cellular structures and components, such as the presence of ergosterol in their cell membranes, distinguishing them from human cells, which contain cholesterol. By exploiting these differences, antifungal medications can effectively disrupt the growth and reproduction of fungi.

For instance, agents like azoles inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol, leading to impaired cell membrane integrity in fungi. Meanwhile, human cells remain largely unaffected due to their different lipid composition. Thus, the ability of antifungal drugs to selectively target fungal pathogens is what makes them effective in treating fungal infections, highlighting their crucial role in pharmacotherapy.

Other drug classes listed, such as antiviral and antibiotic, serve different purposes. Antivirals specifically tackle viral infections and do not target fungal cells, while antibiotics are designed to combat bacterial infections rather than fungi. Antiretrovirals are focused on treating retrovirus infections, specifically HIV, and are not applicable to fungal infections. Therefore, antifungal drugs are the appropriate choice for treating conditions caused by fungal pathogens.