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Introduction to Antibiotics and its

discovery.
Need for Antibiotics.
Content:
-Antibiotics were a major discovery in the
1920s.
-Major source of Antibiotics.

-Three main Antibiotic targets in bacteria.

-Five basic mechanisms of Antibiotic Action
against bacterial cells.
-Pros of taking Antibiotics.
-Side effects of taking Antibiotics.

Conclusion
Bibliography
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INTRODUCTION
TO ANTIBIOTICS
AND ITS
DISCOVERY

An Antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active

against bacteria.It is the most important type of
antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections,and
antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment
and prevention of such infections.They may either kill
or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

In 1928s,at St.Mary's Hospital,London,Alexander

Fleming discovered penicillin.This discovery led to the
introduction of Antibiotics that greatly reduced the
number of deaths from infection.

Fleming was,it seems,a bit disorderly in his work

and accidently discovered penicillin.Upon returning
from holiday in Suffolk in 1928,he noticed that a
fungus,penicillium notatum,had contaminated a
culture plate of Staphylococcus bacteria he had
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accidentally left uncovered.

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NEED FOR
ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics are only needed for treating
certain infections caused by
bacteria.We rely on Antibiotics to treat
serious,life-threatening conditions such as
pneumonia and sepsis,the body’s extreme
response to an infection.Effective
Antibiotics are also needed for people who
are at high risk for developing infections.
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CONTENT

Antibiotics as a major
discovery in 1920’s:
The discovery of antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the
20th century,in 1900 infectious disease was a leading
cause of death,in 2000,infectious disease was responsible
for only a small percentage of deaths in developed nations.

The discovery of penicillin changed the world of medicine

enormously.With its development,infections that were
previously severe and often fatal,like bacterial
endocarditis,bacterial meningitis and pneumococcal
pneumonia , could be easily treated.

Antibiotics were widely used for treating soldiers during

world war II,caring for battle wound infections and
pneumonia.By the mid-to late 1940s,it became widely
accessible for the general public.
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Major Source of Antibiotics:

Antibiotics commonly are produced by soil

microorganisms and probably represent a means by
which organisms in a complex environment,such as
soil,control the growth of competing
microorganisms.Microorganisms that produce
antibiotics useful in preventing or treating disease
include the bacteria and the fungi.

In principle,there are three

main Antibiotic targets in
bacteria:
-The cell wall or membranes that surround the
bacterial cell.
-The machineries that make the nucleic acids DNA and
RNA.
-The machinery that produces proteins(the ribosome
and associated proteins).
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Five Basic Mechanisms of

Antibiotic Action Against
Bacterial Cells:

-Inhibition of cell wall synthesis(most common

mechanism).
-Inhibition of protein synthesis(translation).
-Alteration of cell membranes.
-Inhibition of Nucleic acid synthesis.
-Antimetabolite activity.

The ribosome is a major target for Antibiotics.Drugs

inhibit ribosome function either by interfering in
messenger RNA translation or by blocking the
formation of peptide bonds at the peptidyl
transferase centre.These effects are the consequence
of the binding of drugs to ribosomal subunits.
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Pros of taking Antibiotics:

-Antibiotics can slow the growth of and kill many

types of infections.
-In some cases,such as before surgery,Antibiotics can
prevent infection from occurring.
-Antibiotics are fast acting;some will begin working
within a few hours.
-They are easy to take:Most Antibiotics are oral
medications.
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Side Effects of taking

Antibiotics:

The most common side effects of Antibiotics is,it

affects the digestive system.This happens around 1 in
10 people.

-Vomiting
-Nausea
-Diarrhoea
-Bloating and maldigestion
-Abdominal pain
-Loss of appetite.
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Conclusion

Antibiotic resistance has increased

worldwide in bacterial pathogens
leading to treatment failures in human
and animal infectious
diseases.Resistance against antibiotics
by pathogenic bacteria is a major
concern in the anti-infective therapy
of both humans and animals.
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Bibliography

Source : WikiPediA
EncycloPAediA
NCERT textbook
(Biology class XII)