Antimicrobials 2 Flashcards
Give two examples of how antibiotics target nucleic acid replication
Inhibit DNA replication e.g. Quinolones
Ihibit mRNA synthesis e.g. Rifampicin
How do inhibitors of DNA replication work?
They inhibit DNA replication by primarily targetting key enzymes required for bacterial DNA synthesis, therby preventing cell division and leading to bacterial cell death
What is the mechanism of action for fluoroquinolones?
Inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV
These enzymes are crucial for the uninding and supercoiling of DNA during replication and transcription
Blocking these enzymes leads to breaks in bacterial DNA and prevents replication
Give some examples of fluoroquinolones
Ciprofloxacin (gen 2)
Levofloxacin (gen 3)
Moxifloxacin (gen 4)
Zabofloxacin
What is the spectrum of activity for fluoroquinolones
Broad-spectrum antibiotics which are affective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Give some examples of where fluoroquinolones are commonly used as treatment
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Bacterial pneumonia
Tuberculosis
GI infections particularly shigellosis and gastroenteritis
UTIs
Genital infections - used to be main treatment for gonorrhea but we now have high level resistance against this
Give a more indept description of the mechanism of action of the fluoroquinolones
DNA gyrase normally relieves tension during DNA unwind, introducing negative supercoils to keep DNA untangles and properly coiled for efficient replication
by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase DNA becomes damages and ROS accumulate
Eventually resulting in bacterial death
*should chat gpt this for exact mechanism of action etc
What is the normal role of DNA gyrase
DNA gyrase normally relieves tension during DNA unwind, introducing negative supercoils to keep DNA untangles and properly coiled for efficient replication
What are some examples other than fluoroquinolones of inhibitors of DNA replication?
Nitroimidazoles
Nitrofurans
Novobiocin
Give an example of a nitroimidazole and what is the mechanism of action of Nitroimidazoles
Example: Metronidazole
MOA: drug undergoes reduction in anaerobic conditions to form reactive oxygen species that cause direct DNA damage, leading to the inhibition of DNA synthesis
What is the spectru of activity for metronidazole, a nitroimidazole?
Effective mainly against anaerobic bacteria and certain protozoa
It is commonly used to treat infections such as bacterial vaginosis (anaerobes), clostridium difficile and protozoal infections likae amoebiasis
Give an example of a nitrofuran and give its mechanism of action
Example: Nitrofurantoin
MOA: the drug is reduced in bacterial cells to reactive intermediates that damage DNA and inhibit DNA replication
What is the spectrum of activity for a Nitrofuran such as Nitrofurantoin
Primarily used for urinary tract infections caused by E. Coli or other common uropathogens (nitro disc was used for E.Coli and ents)
What is the mechanism of action of novobiocin?
Novobiocin targets DNA gyrase (specifically the GyrB subunit)
It prevents the supercoiling necessary for replication
How is novobiocin used?
Less commonly used now in clinical settings
Was used to treat S. aureus infections and as a research tool in laborator studies
How do inhibitors of mRNA synthesis work?
These antibiotics work by inhibiting bacterial mNA synthesis (through binging to DNA polymerase?)
Essentially blocking the process by which DNA instructions are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA)
Give some examples of inhibitiors of mRNA synthesis
Rifampicin
Rifaximin
Rifapentine
What is the mechanism of action of rifampicin?
Binds to bacterial RNA polymerase enzyme
Preventing enzyme from initiating the transcription of DNA into mRNA
This stops the production of essential proteins, ultimately leading to bacterial cell death
It is highly specific for bacterial polymerase making it a highly selective bactericidal agent hence its use in long term treatment e.g. TB or leprosy
What infections is rifampicin used for?
Tuberculosis and leprosy (long term treatment of about 6 months etc)
MRSA infections
Prophylaxis for close contacts of meningococcal and Haemophilus meningitis
What spectrum of activity does rifampicin have?
Effective against gram-positive bacteria, mycobacterium tuberculosis, and some gram-negative bacteria
How do antibiotics Targeting Protein Synthesis work, when are they used?
They inhibit (or knock out) the bacterial ribosome which is the cellular machinery responsible for translating mRNa into proteins
Some of these agents have restricted use due to toxicity concerns
One of the few classes of antimiccorbials where new drugs have been developed - new ribosome - targeting antibiotics have shown practical succss in clinical use
List some common examples of antibiotics taregting protein synthesis
Aminoglycosides
Tetracyclines
Macrolides
Lincosamides
Chloramphenicol
Oxazolidinones
Streptogramins
In general what is the mode of action of antibiotics targeting protein synthesis
They bind to bacterial ribosome at either 30S or 50S
This stops the ribosome from binding to mRNA to form amino acid chains (30S) or elongate the chains to form proteins (50S)
Disruptive effect on many essential bacterial functions leading to cell death
How do aminoglycosides work and give an example of one?
Bind to 30S and cause the misreading of mRNA
e.g. Gentamicin
How do tetracyclines work and give an example of one?
Bind to 30S and block tRNA attachment
e.g. Doxycycline
How do macrolides work and give an example of one?
They bind to the 50S subunit and prevent translocation
e,g, azithromycin
How do lincosamides work and give an example of one?
They bind to the 50S subunit and inhibit elongation
e.g. Clindamycin
How does Chloramphenicol work?
Inhibits peptidyl transferase at 50S subunit
How does oxazolidinones work and give an example of one?
Prevent initiation complex at 50S e.g. linezolid
One of our newer classes
How do streptogramins work
Bind to 50S and disrupt elongation and release peptides
List the antibiotics that act on the 30S
Aminoglycosides
Tetracyclines
List the antibiotics that act on the 50S
Macrolides
Lincosamides
Chloramphenicol
Oxazolidinones
Streptogramins
In your own words how does 30S binding differ from 50S binding
30S binding (to mRNA) prevents amino acid chains being produced and from coming together
50S binding prevents elongation of chains
Talk about aminoglycosides, what are they used for
Antibiotics that work by targeting protein synthesis at the 30S ribosomal subunit, which is different from how most other antibiotics work -> this makes them especially effective for certain multi-drug resistant infections
They are known for their effectiveness in treating severe bacterial infections, primarily gram-negative bacteria
List some of the aminoglycosides and give the infection they are mostly used for
Gentamicin - widely used for various systemic infections
Amikacin - bacteria resistant to other aminoglycosides such as gentamicin
Tobramycin - pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
Streptomycin - originally for TB but now used for TB in combination therapy only due to resistance
Neomycin - topical and sometimes oral for gut decontamination
What is the mechanism of action of aminoglycosides
Binds to 30S ribosomal subunit of bacterial ribosomes
This binding disrupts protein synthesis by causing the misreading of mRNA
Incorrect or defective proteins are produced, leading to cell dysfunction and ultimately cell death
Causes misreading of messenger RNA resulting in defective or incorrect amion acids and therefore proteins that can no longer function
Bactericidial effect
Talk about aminoglycosides foor gram-negative bacteria
Aminoglycosides are used to treat serious infections usch as sepsis, hospital-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections
i.e. pathogens such as E. coli, Klebsiela species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Talk about aminoglycosides for gram positive infections
Often used in combination with a beta-lactam antibiotic or vancomycin,
When used in this way aminoglycosides can be effective against gram-positive bacteria including staph aureus
Talk about aminoglycosides for tuberculosis
Streptomycin was originally made for TB but resistance emerged so its now only used as part of combination therapy
What kind of side effects do aminoglycosides have?
Ototoxicity (hearing loss, vestibular damage)
Nephrotoxicity
Talk about the ototoxicity affects of aminoglycosides
Hearing loss:
- they can accumulate in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss, which may be irreversible
Vestibular damage:
- balance issue due to damage to vestibular apparatus
Talk about the nephrotoxic effects of aminoglycosides
Known for their potential to cause acute kidney injury due to accumulation of antibiotic in the renal cortex
Risks are higher in patiemts with pre-existing renal issues or those who are dehydrated
How do we monitor for toxicity of aminoglycosides
Monitor for early hearing loss symptoms is essential to mimise long-term damage
Regular monitoring of renal function e.g. serum creatinine levels is crucial to detect early signs of nephrotoxicity
Therapeutic drug monitoring is generally performed in clinical chemistry
- careful monitoring of drug levels in the blood (both peak and trough) is needed to avoid toxicity while ensuring efficacy
Talk about tetracyclines, how are they used
A class of broad-spectrum antibiotics antibiotics
Effective against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as some atypical organism
They were first discovered in the 1940s but they quickly became popular due to their versatility
Commonly used for respiratory infections, acne and atypical bacteria
Give some examples of tetracyclines and what they are used for
Tetracycline: the original drug in this class
Doxycline: known for fewer side effects and good bioavailability
Minocycline: sometimes used for acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties
Tigecycline: a glycylcycline -> derived from tetracycline -> a new antibiotic -> used for resistant bacteria
What is the mechanism of action of tetracyclines?
Target protein synthesis
Bind to 30S ribosomal subunit of the bacterial ribosome
This prevents binding of tRNA which is necessary for adding amino acids to the growing protein chain
As a result protein synthesis is inhibited and thus bacterial growth is prevented
Bacteriostatic and not bacteriocidal