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How Antimicrobial Drugs Work definitions

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  • Selective Toxicity
    Ability of a drug to harm microbes without damaging human cells by exploiting structural or metabolic differences.
  • Peptidoglycan
    Unique bacterial cell wall component targeted by several antibiotics, absent in human cells.
  • Cell Wall
    Rigid bacterial structure providing shape and protection, often disrupted by bactericidal drugs.
  • Cell Membrane
    Barrier with distinct bacterial lipids, allowing selective targeting by certain antimicrobials.
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis
    Process involving bacterial-specific enzymes for DNA and RNA production, targeted by some antibiotics.
  • 70S Ribosome
    Bacterial protein synthesis machinery structurally different from eukaryotic counterparts, enabling selective inhibition.
  • Protein Synthesis
    Essential cellular process in bacteria, often halted by drugs acting on ribosomal differences.
  • Metabolic Pathways
    Bacterial-specific biochemical routes, such as folic acid synthesis, targeted by selective drugs.
  • Folic Acid Synthesis
    Bacterial pathway for producing a vital vitamin, absent in humans due to dietary intake.
  • Bactericidal
    Classification for drugs that directly kill bacteria, often by disrupting cell walls or membranes.
  • Bacteriostatic
    Classification for drugs that halt bacterial growth, relying on the immune system for infection clearance.
  • Replication
    Bacterial DNA duplication process involving unique enzymes, serving as a drug target.
  • Transcription
    Bacterial RNA synthesis process using distinct enzymes, susceptible to selective inhibition.
  • Antimicrobial Therapy
    Treatment approach utilizing drugs to exploit microbial vulnerabilities while sparing human cells.
  • Antibiotic Resistance
    Microbial adaptation reducing drug effectiveness, challenging successful infection treatment.