selective antimicrobials

examples of selective agents include

antibiotic and antifungal drugs intended for systemic use

selective antimicrobials interact with

components found only in the target microorganism

if the target of a drug isn’t expressed in a particular microorganism or if the target has become altered the drug

will not exert an effect on that organism

penicillin - type of antimicrobial

antibiotic

penicillin - organism targeted

gram-positive bacteria

penicillin - toxic mechanism

inactivates key transpeptidase enzyme in cell wall manufacture

clindamycin - type of antimicrobial

antibiotic

clindamycin - organism targeted

most bacteria

clindamycin - toxic mechanism

interfered with protein translation by binding to ribosome

metronidazole - type of antimicrobial

antibiotic / antifungal

metronidazole - organism targeted

many bacteria and fungi

metronidazole - toxic mechanism

activated only in microbial cells then causes irreparable DNA damage

mebendazole - type of antimicrobial

antihelminthic

mebendazole - organism targeted

parasitic pinworms

mebendazole - toxic mechanism

binds key cytoskeletal enzyme preventing worm growth and replication

acyclovir - type of antimicrobial

antiviral

acyclovir - organism targeted

herpes virus

acyclovir - toxic mechanism

inhibits viral DNA synthesis, preventing replication