Antimicrobial Bacterial Drugs

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the modes of action of antimicrobial bacterial drugs, including specific drugs, structures, and their mechanisms.

Inhibit cell wall synthesis

A primary mode of action for antimicrobial bacterial drugs where the drug prevents the formation of the bacterial cell wall.

Peptidoglycan

A structural component of bacterial cell walls that is targeted by various antimicrobial agents.

B-lactam ring

A chemical structure found in many antibiotics, including penicillin, that is essential for their antimicrobial activity.

Penicillin

An antibiotic that disrupts cell wall synthesis in bacteria, synthesized from molds.

Penicillinases

Enzymes produced by some bacteria that degrade penicillin and render it ineffective.

Bacitracin

An antimicrobial drug that interferes with the transport of peptidoglycan precursors, inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

Vancomycin

An antibiotic that binds to the amino acid side chains of NAM molecules, interfering with peptidoglycan synthesis.

Ampicillin and Amoxicillin

Semisynthetic derivatives of penicillin that can be synthesized in vitro and have various side chains.

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)

Proteins that are targeted by B-lactam drugs to inhibit the formation of peptide chains in peptidoglycan.

N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)

An important component of peptidoglycan, which is affected by antibiotics like vancomycin.