Antibiotics: antimicrobial agents produced by microorganisms that kill or inhibit other

microorganisms. This is the microbiologist's definition. A more broadened definition of an

antibiotic includes any chemical of natural origin (from any type of cell) which has the effect
to kill or inhibit the growth of other types cells. Since most clinically-useful antibiotics are
produced by microorganisms and are used to kill or inhibit infectious Bacteria, we will follow
the classic definition. Note also (above), pharmacologists refer to any antimicrobial chemical
used in the treatment of infectious disease as antibiotic.

Antibiotics are low molecular-weight (non-protein) molecules produced as secondary

metabolites, mainly by microorganisms that live in the soil. Most of these microorganisms
form some type of a spore or other dormant cell, and there is thought to be some
relationship (besides temporal) between antibiotic production and the processes of
sporulation. Among the molds, the notable antibiotic producers are Penicillium and
Cephalosporium, which are the main source of the beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin and its
relatives). In the Bacteria, the Actinomycetes, notably Streptomyces species, produce a
variety of types of antibiotics including the aminoglycosides (e.g. streptomycin), macrolides
(e.g. erythromycin), and the tetracyclines. Endospore-forming Bacillus species produce
polypeptide antibiotics such as polymyxin and bacitracin. The table below (Table 4) is a
summary of the classes of antibiotics and their properties including their biological sources.

Semisynthetic antibiotics are molecules produced by a microbe that are subsequently

modified by an organic chemist to enhance their antimicrobial properties or to render them
unique for a pharmaceutical patent.

Table 4. Classes of antibiotics and their properties

Spectrum
Chemical Biological Mode of
Examples (effective
class source action
against)
Inhibits steps
Beta-lactams Penicillium in cell wall
(penicillins and Penicillin G, notatum and Gram-positive (peptidoglyca
cephalosporins Cephalothin Cephalosporiu bacteria n) synthesis
) m species and murein
assembly
Inhibits steps
Gram-positive in cell wall
Semisynthetic Ampicillin, and Gram- (peptidoglyca
penicillin Amoxycillin negative n) synthesis
bacteria and murein
assembly
Clavamox is Gram-positive Suicide
clavulanic acid Streptomyces and Gram- inhibitor of
Clavulanic Acid
plus clavuligerus negative beta-
amoxycillin bacteria lactamases
Inhibits steps
Gram-positive in cell wall
Chromobacter and Gram- (peptidoglyca
Monobactams Aztreonam
violaceum negative n) synthesis
bacteria and murein
assembly
Inhibits steps
Gram-positive in cell wall
Carboxypenem Streptomyces and Gram- (peptidoglyca
Imipenem
s cattleya negative n) synthesis
bacteria and murein
assembly
Gram-positive Inhibit
Aminoglycosid Streptomyces and Gram- translation
Streptomycin
es griseus negative (protein
bacteria synthesis)
Gentamicin Micromonospo Gram-positive Inhibit
ra species and Gram- translation
negative (protein
bacteria esp. synthesis)
 Pseudomonas
Inhibits steps
Gram-positive in murein
Streptomyces bacteria, esp. (peptidoglyca
Glycopeptides Vancomycin
orientales Staphylococcu n)
s aureus biosynthesis
and assembly
Gram-positive
and Gram- Inhibits
Streptomyces negative translation
Lincomycins Clindamycin
lincolnensis bacteria esp. (protein
anaerobic synthesis)
Bacteroides
Gram-positive
bacteria,
Gram-
Inhibits
negative
Streptomyces translation
Macrolides Erythromycin bacteria not
erythreus (protein
enterics,
synthesis)
Neisseria,
Legionella,
Mycoplasma
Gram- Damages
Bacillus
Polypeptides Polymyxin negative cytoplasmic
polymyxa
bacteria membranes
Inhibits steps
in murein
Bacillus Gram-positive (peptidoglyca
Bacitracin
subtilis bacteria n)
biosynthesis
and assembly
Inactivate
Streptomyces membranes
Polyenes Amphotericin Fungi
nodosus containing
sterols
Inactivate
Streptomyces Fungi membranes
Nystatin
noursei (Candida) containing
sterols
Gram-positive
and Gram- Inhibits
negative transcription
Streptomyces
Rifamycins Rifampicin bacteria, (eubacterial
mediterranei
Mycobacteriu RNA
m polymerase)
tuberculosis
Gram-positive
Inhibit
and Gram-
Streptomyces translation
Tetracyclines Tetracycline negative
species (protein
bacteria,
synthesis)
Rickettsias
Gram-positive
and Gram-
Inhibit
negative
Semisynthetic translation
Doxycycline bacteria,
tetracycline (protein
Rickettsias
synthesis)
Ehrlichia,
Borrelia
Gram-positive Inhibits
Chloramphenic Chloramphenic Streptomyces and Gram- translation
ol ol venezuelae negative (protein
bacteria synthesis)