Final answer:
The limited availability of drugs for use against fungal pathogens compared to bacteria is primarily due to the challenges in developing medications that selectively target fungal cells without harming human cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The limited availability of drugs for use against fungal pathogens compared to bacteria is primarily due to the challenges in developing medications that selectively target fungal cells without harming human cells. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, like human cells, making it more difficult to develop drugs with selective toxicity. In contrast, bacteria are prokaryotes, which provide a greater variety of unique targets for selective toxicity.
Furthermore, fungi have different cell structures and modes of action compared to bacteria, requiring specific drug targets. For example, some antifungal medications target the synthesis of ergosterols, which are present in the fungal cell membrane but not in human cells. Others target the chitin cell walls of fungi. However, these medications may have more toxic side effects than antibiotics for bacteria.
In conclusion, the limited availability of drugs for use against fungal pathogens is primarily due to the similarities between fungal and human cells, making it challenging to develop medications with selective toxicity.