Antibiotics-Protein synthesis inhibitors Flashcards
What is the coverage spectrum of Penicillin?
Some gram negative bacteria and all gram positives
What is the coverage spectrum of Cephalosporins?
Gram negatives and gram positive bacteria
What are the major differences between eurkaryotes and prokaryotes?
1) Prokaryotes have cell walls whereas eukaryotes do NOT
2) Prokaryotes use 30s/50s ribosomes whereas eukaryotes use 40s/60s ribosomes
3) Prokarytoes DON’T need preformed folate for RNA/DNA synthesis
- remember that both prokaryotes and eukaryotes use topoisomerase but drugs are often more sensitive to bacterial topoisomerase
What are the general features of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis?
1) Selective to bacterial ribosomes
2) Have broader spectrum than ß-lactams - all bacteria need protein synthesis to grow
3) Bacteriostatic (with the exception of one group): affect reproduction > integrity (allows the immune system to take over)
Which antibacterial acts by inhibiting action at 30S and 50S subunit of the ribosome?
Aminoglycosides
Which antibacterial acts by inhibiting action at the 30S subunit of the ribosome?
Tetracyclines
Which antibacterials act by inhibiting the action of the 50S subunit of the ribosome?
(i) Macrolides
(ii) Clindamycin
(iii) Linezolid
What are the mechanisms of aminoglycosides?
1) Binds to two receptor sites => 16S RNA, 23S RNA and other ribosomal proteins
2) Leads to wrong base incorporation and misreading of mRNA
3) Translocation (30S binding) and recycling blocked (50S binding)
What additional mechanism does streptomycin have over other aminoglycosides?
Streptomycin can block initiation
Are aminoglycosides bacteriostatic or bactericidal?
Aminoglycosides are bactericidal unlike most other protein synthesis inhibitors
- however at low concentrations it is bacteriostatic
Why are aminoglycosides bactericidal?
Aminoglycosides transport easily into bacterial cells:
- Passive diffusion through the porin channels of the outer membrane
- Energy-dependent, rate-limiting transport through the plasma membrane (inhibited under anaerobic conditions)
Cytotoxicity:
- Drug-induced mutated proteins inserted into the plasma membranes enhance uptake of the drug
What is the most common cause of aminoglycoside resistance?
Inactivating enzymes (acetylases, adenylases )
What are other methods of aminoglycoside resistance?
1) Membrane impermeability
2) Mutation of the binding site
3) Methylation of rRNA
What is the historic use of streptomycin?
Mycobacterium TB (not used in US any more)
What is the coverage of gentamicin and tobramycin?
1) Aerobic gram negative rods
2) Gram positive if synergy with beta lactams
What group of bacteria are resistant to aminoglycosides?
Anaerobes are resistant
What is the best way to administer aminoglycosides?
- Poor oral absorption (poorly distributed to tissues)
- IV and IM