ASSIGNMENT NO#03

SUBMITTED TO:

Sir, TAHIR ISHAQ

SUBMITTED BY:

ALI KHAN

71333557

SUBJECT:

CLINICAL BECTERIOLOGY

SEMESTER:

5TH

ASSIGNMENT TOPIC:

Define antibacterial and antiviral drugs. What are the sources and spectrum of antibacterial
drugs. Give a detail note on different classes of antibiotics with respect of their mode of actions
with suitable examples

MEDICAL LABORATRY TECHNICIAN(MLT)

THE UMIVERSITY OF LAHORE

Antibacterial:

Antibacterial drugs, also known as antibiotics, are medications that target and kill bacteria.
They are used to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and
pneumonia. Antibacterial drugs work by either stopping the growth of bacteria or killing the
bacteria outright.

Antiviral drugs:

Antiviral drugs, on the other hand, are medications that are used to treat viral infections.
They work by either stopping the virus from replicating or by preventing the virus from
entering the host cell. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat a variety of viral infections, such
as influenza, HIV, and herpes. However, it's important to note that there are fewer antiviral
drugs available compared to antibacterial drugs, as viruses are much more difficult to target
and eliminate than bacteria.
What are the sources and spectrum of antibacterial drugs.

Antibacterial drugs, also known as antibiotics, can be derived from a variety of sources,
including:

Natural sources: Many antibiotics are naturally produced by microorganisms, such as fungi
and bacteria. Examples of antibiotics derived from natural sources include penicillin,
cephalosporins, and tetracyclines.

Synthetic sources: Some antibiotics are synthesized in a laboratory. Examples of synthetic

antibiotics include quinolones and macrolides.

Semi-synthetic sources: Semi-synthetic antibiotics are created by modifying natural

antibiotics. Examples of semi-synthetic antibiotics include amoxicillin, ampicillin, and
oxacillin.

The spectrum of antibacterial drugs refers to the range of bacteria that a particular
antibiotic is effective against. Some antibiotics are broad-spectrum, meaning they can kill a
wide range of bacteria, while others are narrow-spectrum, meaning they are effective
against a limited range of bacteria. For example, penicillin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic
that is effective against Gram-positive bacteria, while tetracycline is a broad-spectrum
antibiotic that can kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Understanding the
spectrum of an antibiotic is important in selecting the appropriate drug for a specific
infection.

Give a detail note on different classes of antibiotics with respect of their

mode of actions with suitable examples

classes of antibiotics:
There are several classes of antibiotics, each with a unique mode of action that targets
specific aspects of bacterial cell biology. Here are some examples of different classes of
antibiotics and their mode of action:

Beta-lactams:

Beta-lactams include penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. They work by inhibiting

the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, which eventually leads to the death of the bacteria.
Examples of beta-lactam antibiotics include penicillin G, amoxicillin, and ceftriaxone.

Macrolides:

Macrolides, such as erythromycin and azithromycin, bind to the bacterial ribosome and
inhibit protein synthesis. They prevent the bacteria from producing essential proteins
necessary for their survival, leading to bacterial death.

Tetracyclines:

Tetracyclines, such as doxycycline and minocycline, also inhibit protein synthesis by binding
to the bacterial ribosome. They prevent the bacteria from producing proteins that are
necessary for their survival.

Aminoglycosides: Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin and streptomycin, bind to the

bacterial ribosome and cause misreading of the genetic code during protein synthesis. This
results in the production of non-functional proteins and eventually leads to bacterial death.

Fluoroquinolones:
Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, inhibit DNA synthesis by binding
to the enzyme DNA gyrase. This prevents the bacteria from replicating their DNA, leading to
their death.

Sulfonamides:

Sulfonamides, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, inhibit the bacterial synthesis of folic

acid. Folic acid is essential for the production of DNA and RNA, and its inhibition leads to
bacterial death.

Glycopeptides:

Glycopeptides, such as vancomycin, work by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell
wall. They bind to the bacterial cell wall precursors and prevent their incorporation into the
cell wall, eventually leading to bacterial death.

In summary, different classes of antibiotics target different aspects of bacterial cell biology,
including cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and folic acid synthesis.
Understanding the mode of action of different antibiotics is essential in selecting the
appropriate antibiotic for a specific bacterial infection.
Mechanisms of action:

Antibiotics produce their effects through a variety of mechanisms of action. A large number
work by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis; these agents are referred to generally as β-
lactam antibiotics. Production of the bacterial cell wall involves the partial assembly of wall
components inside the cell, transport of these structures through the cell membrane to the
growing wall, assembly into the wall, and finally cross-linking of the strands of wall material.
Antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of the cell wall have a specific effect on one or another
phase. The result is an alteration in the cell wall and shape of the organism and eventually
the death of the bacterium.

Other antibiotics, such as the aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and

clindamycin, inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria. The basic process by which bacteria
and animal cells synthesize proteins is similar, but the proteins involved are different. Those
antibiotics that are selectively toxic utilize these differences to bind to or inhibit the function
of the proteins of the bacterium, thereby preventing the synthesis of new proteins and new
bacterial cells.

Antibiotics such as polymyxin B and polymyxin E (colistin) bind to phospholipids in the cell
membrane of the bacterium and interfere with its function as a selective barrier; this allows
essential macromolecules in the cell to leak out, resulting in the death of the cell. Because
other cells, including human cells, have similar or identical phospholipids, these antibiotics
are somewhat toxic.

Reference:

https://www.britannica.com/science/antibiotic/Antibiotic-resistance

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Antiviral_Drugs

https://www.reactgroup.org/toolbox/understand/antibiotics/how-do-antibiotics-work/