Question

• Describe the modes of action of antimicrobial drugs (ie: cell membrane, cell wall, protein synthesis, etc). Please provide an example drug for each.
• Explain the differences between antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral drugs. Why is it important to know the difference in the drug targets?
• Discuss antimicrobial resistance. Be sure to include the mechanisms used by organisms and the implication on treatment options.

Answer 1

Mode of action of antimicrobial drug on cell membrane

antimicrobial drugs act by disrupting or injuring the plasma membrane. It bind to the membrane  causes rapid depolarization, resulting in a loss of membrane potential leading to inhibition of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis, which results in bacterial cell death.

Example : daptomycin

Mode of action of antimicrobial drugs on cell wall

Antimicrobial drugs inhibit the cell wall synthesis.

Example: pencillin , cephalosporin

Mode of action of antimicrobial drugs on protein synthesis

Protein biosynthesis is catalyzed by ribosomes and cytoplasmic factors. Antimicrobials inhibit protein biosynthesis by targeting the 30S or 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome.

Antibacterial drugs

An agent that destroys bacteria and fungi , suppress their growth or their ability to reproduce.

Antibiotics and chemotherapeutic are the sub types.

Antimicrobial drugs

An agent that destroys the microorganisms , suppress their growth or ability to reproduce.

Types includes antibacterial, antiviral, antimicotics, antiparasitic agents etc

Antifungal drugs

Antifungals can be three types based on their site of action: azoles, which inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol , polyenes, which interact with fungal membrane sterols physicochemically, and 5-fluorocytosine, which inhibits macromolecular synthesis.

Antiviral drugs

Anti viral drug prevents the virus from fusing to the healthy cell by blocking a receptor that helps bind the virus to the cell.

Antimicrobial resistance:

Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microbe to resist the effects of medication that once could successfully treat the microbe.