1 How does Penicillin work In what other ways might Penicill

1. How does Penicillin work? In what other ways might Penicillin (and similar drugs) be used to inhibit a bacterium’s ability to cause infection or persist in a host? (HINT: Think about the other structural features of a bacterium)

Solution

Beta -lactum antibiotics such as penicillins, sulfonamides contain beta-lactum ring in their structures, examples include penicillin, cephalosporins, carbapenems and monobactum antibiotics. They act in inhibiting the cell wall synthesis, therefore they considered as bactericidal. These antibiotics are generally effective against Gram- positive bacteria and some are also effective against gram negative bacteria. Examples include staphylococcus species, streptococcus species.

Penicillin- beta lactum inhibition:

Penicillium notatum is the fungus that secretes a metabolite that kills the bacteria. These penicillins are active against the gram- positive bacteria and they act by inhibiting the cell wall synthesis therefore penicillin (and similar drugs) be used to inhibit a bacterium’s ability to cause infection or persist in a host. Transition state analog of penicillin & enzyme: Chemical reaction of penicillin (beta-lactum ring) in reaction with N-C bond of D-ala-D-ala analog i.e. glycoproteinpeptidase finally result in formation of \"transition state analog\". The mechanism is mainly mediated by suicide inhibition of the enzyme irreversibly by reacting with enzyme