Basics and Mechanisms of Action Flashcards
Chemotherapy
Treatment of disease w/ antibiotics or other chemical agents
Antibiotics Characteristics
- Microbial origins (fungi) classically, some synthetic now
- Low molecular weight
- Spectrum of Activity
a. broad: wide variety of unrelated
b. narrow: few related - Mechanism of action
Basis of Selective Toxicity
- Absence of target from host (inhibit bacteria w/o hurting host
- Permeability differences: antibiotics must be effective at concentrations that don’t hurt the host
- Structural differences in target: ex. different ribosomal subunits
Bacteriostatic agents
Reversibly inhibit bacterial growth; resemble metabolite analogs and act as competitive inhibitors
Bactericidal agents
lethal; may/may not cause cell lysis; generally only effective against growing cells
Often irreversible competitive inhibitors
Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)
lowest concentration of drug that inhibits more than 99% of bacterial population
Minimal Lethal Dose (MLD)
Lowest concentration of drug that kills more than 99.9% of bacterial population
Drug interactions: Indifference
Combined action of drug A and B is not greater than the more effective drug alone, nor is it less effective
Drug interactions: additive
The effects of A and B sum together
Drug interactions: synergism
Effects of A and B are greater than the sum of A and B. Often occurs with 2 bactericidal drugs
Drug interactions: Antagonism
The effects of A and B together are less than the most effective drug. Often occurs when a bactericidal drug is used with a bacteriostatic drug
Intrinsic antibiotic resistance
The target of the antibiotic is missing
Ex. Vancomycin not effective against mycoplasm b/c no peptidoglycan
Acquired antibiotic resistance: Horizontal gene transfer
Antibiotic target is present but the bacteria acquired a mutation by exchanging genetic material via plasmids or transposable elements
Acquired antibiotic resistance: Spontaneous mutation
Mutations arise spontaneously & randomly in absence of selection
3 Antibiotic Mechanisms of Action
- Target essential metabolic pathway
- Target nucleic acid synthesis
a. Transcription
b. DNA replication - Disrupt bacterial membranes