MOAs for antimicrobial medications

Question 1

inhibition of cell wall

Answer 1

antimicrobial binds penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) and inhibits linking of peptide chains

Question 2

inhibition of cell membrane

Answer 2

antimicrobial makes gram-negative membrane permeable so compounds can cross cell wall (antimicrobials that do this are usually topical due to toxicity)

Question 3

inhibition of DNA synthesis

Answer 3

antimicrobial blocks DNA gyrase so DNA can’t correctly form, or blocks folate production which is needed to form purine for DNA

Question 4

inhibition of protein synthesis

Answer 4

antimicrobial acts at ribosome to block mRNA translation

Question 5

inhibition of DNA strand

Answer 5

antimicrobial interacts with DNA to cause DNA breaks