Immunology and Cell Biology

Antibiotics and Current Research

 Antibiotics are the drug used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. Synthetic antibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks. Several antibiotics are also effective against fungi and protozoans, and some are toxic to humans and animals, even when given in therapeutic dosage.Antibiotic must reach the binding site of the microbe to interfere with the life cycle &  must occupy “sufficient” number of active sites. Antibiotic must reside on the active site for “sufficient” time. Antibiotics are not contact poisons. Antibacterial antibiotics target the bacterial cell wall or the cell membrane, or interfere with essential bacterial enzymes.

Current research in antibiotic resistance can be divided into several areas of focus.

•          Novel antibacterial drug discoverantibacterial drug discovery

•          Investigating antibiotic use and determining minimal-risk policies

•          Nutrition as a method of controlling bacterial infections

•          Economic implications of bacterial resistance

•          Compilation of information on bacterial resistance