Step 1 Study Topics: Antibiotic Mechanisms Of Action

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to compiling Step 1 study notes for the topic of antibiotic mechanisms of action. This page is likely disorganized as it was made in haste.

PENICILLINS

Mechanism of resistance:

  • Beta-lactamase, ESBL
  • Mutated PBP
  • Mutated porin protein
FIRST GENERATION CEPHALOSPORINS

Examples of drugs:

Cephalexin, 

Mechanism of action: 

This class of medications interfere with bacterial cell wall synthesis by a mechanisms similar to penicillin. Beta-lactam ring that binds penicillin binding proteins in bacterial cell walls, inhibit peptidoglycan production,  and inhibits the transpeptidase cross-linking the cell wall. Less susceptible to penicillinases then penicillins. 

QUINOLONES

Examples of drugs:

Ciproflaxacin

Mechanism of resistance:

  • Mutated DNA gyrase
  • Impaired influx/increased efflux 
AMINOGLYCOSIDES

Examples:

Doxycycline

Mechanism of action:

Interfere witht he aminoacyl binding site on the 30S ribosomal subunit. Causes the cell to misread mRNA, so it becomes unable to perform protien synthesis. 

Mechanism of resistance:

  • Methylation of the aminoglycoside binding portion of the ribosome (inhibits binding of the drug)
  • Aminoglycoside-modifieying enzymes
  • Mutated ribosomal subunit protein
  • Mutated pro in protein 
TETRACYCLINES

Mechanism of resistance:

  • Impaired influx/increased efflux
  • Inactivated enzyme 
RIFAMYCINS

Mechanism of resistance:

  • Mutated RNA polymerase 
MACROLIDES

Examples of drugs:

Azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin. 

Mechanism of action: 

Inhibit protein synthesis by blocking translocation. They bind to the 23S rRNA of the 50S ribosomal subunit..

Mechanism of resistance:

  • The methylation of 23S rRNA-binding site prevents binding of drug.

 

Page Updated: 04.15.2017