Reference no: EM133692216
Question
Explain the mechanisms of actions and provide example drugs of the following.
a. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis: Blocks the formation of peptide cross links in order to weaken the cell wall and end up causing the cell to lyse.
i. lactams such as penicillin and methicillin: penicillian with gram positive cocci and some gram-negative bacteria. Methicillin treats infections from penicillin resistant bacteria.
ii. Cephalosporins
b. Inhibition of protein synthesis: bind to subunits to inhibit ribosome assembly.
i. Aminoglycosides: changes the shape of the subunits so its unable to read the mRNA and incorrect amino acids leading to wrong protein ii. Tetracyclines: block the docking side of the transfer RNA, preventing amino acids from being added.
c. Inhibition of folic acid synthesis
i. Sulfonamides: Blocks pathways and inhibits metabolism
d. Disruption of cell membranes
i. Polymyxins: attacks the cytoplasmic membrane making it interfere with its integrity and cause cell to lyse. Extremely toxic only used topically.
e. Disruption of DNA and RNA synthesis
i. Fluoroquinolones: Block DNA gyrase, an enzyme in DNA replication, to inhibit bacterial replication.
ii. Rifamycin: bind more readily to RNA polymerase in prokaryotes than eukaryotes and can be used to block transcription
7. Explain how drug resistance develops