Antibiotics: Difference between revisions
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Antibiotics are drugs which are used to treat infections. When they were first discovered they were thought to be a wonder drug that would eliminate all worldwide [[Infection|infection]]. However soon it was realized that the [[Bacteria|bacteria]] they were treating would develop resistance against them. This resistance can be either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Acquired resistance is when initially the antibiotics is effective at treating the infection although over time the bacteria develop resistance <ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>. Intrinsic resistance is when the bacteria never respond to the antibiotics they have always had resistance. In response to the increase in antobiotics resistance new drugs keep being synthesized in an attempt to find new cures – however the amount of new effective antobiotics being found is rapidly decreasing <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref><ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>. | Antibiotics are drugs which are used to treat infections. When they were first discovered they were thought to be a wonder drug that would eliminate all worldwide [[Infection|infection]]. However, soon it was realized that the [[Bacteria|bacteria]] they were treating would develop resistance against them. This resistance can be either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Acquired resistance is when initially the antibiotics is effective at treating the infection although over time the bacteria develop resistance <ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>. Intrinsic resistance is when the bacteria never respond to the antibiotics they have always had resistance. In response to the increase in antobiotics resistance new drugs keep being synthesized in an attempt to find new cures – however the amount of new effective antobiotics being found is rapidly decreasing <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref><ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>. | ||
It was [[Alexander Fleming|Alexander Fleming]] who discovered the first known antibiotics. This was in the 1920’s when he saw [[Staphylococci|Staphylococci]] being inhibited by [[Penicillin|Penicillin]]. However discovering how to extract the penicillin and use it effectively did not occur until the 1940’s <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref>. | It was [[Alexander Fleming|Alexander Fleming]] who discovered the first known antibiotics. This was in the 1920’s when he saw [[Staphylococci|Staphylococci]] being inhibited by [[Penicillin|Penicillin]]. However discovering how to extract the penicillin and use it effectively did not occur until the 1940’s <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref>. | ||
There are three different types of antibiotics; [[Bacterostatic|bacterostatic]] ,[[Bactericidal|bactericidal]] and [[Bacteriolytic|bacteriolytic]]. Bactereostatic prevent the development of any further infection, halting it and allowing the [[Immune system|immune system]] to deal with the cells which are already infected. Bactereocidal on the other hand kill all of the bacteria present, ridding the body of any present infection <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref><ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>.<br> | There are three different types of antibiotics; [[Bacterostatic|bacterostatic]] ,[[Bactericidal|bactericidal]] and [[Bacteriolytic|bacteriolytic]]. Bactereostatic prevent the development of any further infection, halting it and allowing the [[Immune system|immune system]] to deal with the cells which are already infected. Bactereocidal on the other hand kill all of the bacteria present, ridding the body of any present infection <ref>Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.</ref><ref>H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.</ref>.<br>Bacteriolytic antibiotics act to lyse the bacteria, many common antibiotics such as [[Penicillin]] act in this way. Penicillin acts by irreversibly binding to and inhibiting the enzyme ([[Transpeptidase]]) that creates cross-links between the peptidoglycan in the cell wall. The cell wall is now not functional to protect the bacterial cell from [[Lysis]] via [[Osmotic action]]. Bacteriolytic antibiotics may not be favourable in bacteria that contain endotoxins which would release upon cell lysis as these can be very harmful to the body. | ||
Bacteriolytic antibiotics act to lyse the bacteria, many common antibiotics such as [[ | |||
Antibiotics are used to treat [[Bacteria|bacteria]] that cause [[Infection|infection]]. The first antibiotic to be discovered was penicillin and was founded by [[Alexander Flemming|Alexander Flemming]]. | Antibiotics are used to treat [[Bacteria|bacteria]] that cause [[Infection|infection]]. The first antibiotic to be discovered was penicillin and was founded by [[Alexander Flemming|Alexander Flemming]]. | ||
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=== Why do antibiotics work? === | === Why do antibiotics work? === | ||
[[Bacteria|Bacteria]] and [[Eukaryotes|eukaryotes]] form two different kingdoms meaning that there are many differences between them. These differences can be exploited when trying to beat an [[Infection|infection]]. Drugs can directly inhibit a process in [[Bacteria|bacteria without]] causing any disruption to a similar process in the host [[Organism|organism]]. Many antibiotics target the cell wall biosynthesis as [[Eukaryotic cells|eukaryotic cells]] don’t have cell walls making it an easy target<ref>Alberts et al. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. 1521-1522.</ref>. | [[Bacteria|Bacteria]] and [[Eukaryotes|eukaryotes]] form two different kingdoms meaning that there are many differences between them. These differences can be exploited when trying to beat an [[Infection|infection]]. Drugs can directly inhibit a process in [[Bacteria|bacteria without]] causing any disruption to a similar process in the host [[Organism|organism]]. Many antibiotics target the cell wall biosynthesis as [[Eukaryotic cells|eukaryotic cells]] don’t have cell walls making it an easy target<ref>Alberts et al. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. 1521-1522.</ref>. | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
<references /><br> | <references /><br> | ||
Revision as of 15:47, 3 December 2015
Antibiotics are drugs which are used to treat infections. When they were first discovered they were thought to be a wonder drug that would eliminate all worldwide infection. However, soon it was realized that the bacteria they were treating would develop resistance against them. This resistance can be either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Acquired resistance is when initially the antibiotics is effective at treating the infection although over time the bacteria develop resistance [1]. Intrinsic resistance is when the bacteria never respond to the antibiotics they have always had resistance. In response to the increase in antobiotics resistance new drugs keep being synthesized in an attempt to find new cures – however the amount of new effective antobiotics being found is rapidly decreasing [2][3].
It was Alexander Fleming who discovered the first known antibiotics. This was in the 1920’s when he saw Staphylococci being inhibited by Penicillin. However discovering how to extract the penicillin and use it effectively did not occur until the 1940’s [4].
There are three different types of antibiotics; bacterostatic ,bactericidal and bacteriolytic. Bactereostatic prevent the development of any further infection, halting it and allowing the immune system to deal with the cells which are already infected. Bactereocidal on the other hand kill all of the bacteria present, ridding the body of any present infection [5][6].
Bacteriolytic antibiotics act to lyse the bacteria, many common antibiotics such as Penicillin act in this way. Penicillin acts by irreversibly binding to and inhibiting the enzyme (Transpeptidase) that creates cross-links between the peptidoglycan in the cell wall. The cell wall is now not functional to protect the bacterial cell from Lysis via Osmotic action. Bacteriolytic antibiotics may not be favourable in bacteria that contain endotoxins which would release upon cell lysis as these can be very harmful to the body.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacteria that cause infection. The first antibiotic to be discovered was penicillin and was founded by Alexander Flemming.
How was Penicillin discovered?
Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin completely by accident. He was working with a strain of Staphylococcus bacteria and found that the petri dishes became infected with fungi. However there was a ring around each colony where the bacteria had died. Flemming did some research into the fungi and found it came from the penecillium genus which is how penicillin got its name[7]
Why do antibiotics work?
Bacteria and eukaryotes form two different kingdoms meaning that there are many differences between them. These differences can be exploited when trying to beat an infection. Drugs can directly inhibit a process in bacteria without causing any disruption to a similar process in the host organism. Many antibiotics target the cell wall biosynthesis as eukaryotic cells don’t have cell walls making it an easy target[8].
References
- ↑ H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.
- ↑ Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.
- ↑ H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.
- ↑ Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.
- ↑ Yassin, Dawson (2007). Pharmacology. 3rd ed. China: Mosby. p201-210.
- ↑ H P Rang, M M Dale et al. (2007). Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 7th ed. Spain: Elsevier. 609-37.
- ↑ Sadava et al. (2012). Life, the Science of Biology. 10th ed. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates Inc. 608
- ↑ Alberts et al. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. 1521-1522.