Antifungal drug efflux
Molecular mechanisms of azole resistance. Drugs enter the cell through an unknown mechanism (passive diffusion ?). Two types of efflux pumps are expressed at low levels.
In a "model" resistant cell, the drugs are less effective because
- the target enzyme has been modified (point mutations) and is overexpressed;
- the sterol components of the plasma membrane are modified;
- the azoles are effluxed through overexpression of the CDR (ABCT) and MDR (MF) genes. Adapted from White, T. C. 1997. Antifungal drug resistance in Candida albicans. ASM News 63:427-433