Final answer:
Echinocandins, such as caspofungin, inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis by blocking ß(1→3) glucan and are used against aspergillosis and systemic yeast infections, earning them the moniker 'penicillin for fungi'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antifungal drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis primarily include the echinocandins, such as caspofungin, which block the synthesis of ß(1→3) glucan, an essential component of the fungal cell wall. These powerful antifungals are used to treat diseases like aspergillosis and systemic yeast infections. The polyoxins and nikkomycins also target fungal cell wall components, specifically chitin synthesis; however, their usage is currently more restricted, with nikkomycin Z still under development for human therapeutic use.
Caspofungin is often referred to as the "penicillin for fungi," due to its ability to impede fungal cell wall formation in a manner analogous to how penicillin affects bacterial cell walls. Unlike penicillin, which acts on the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls, caspofungin attacks the fungi-specific ß(1→3) glucan, ensuring minimal toxicity to human cells which do not contain this structure.