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Cell Biology

The discovery of the antibiotic Penicillin in the 1920s made a big impact on human history. Not only did it provide a cure for bacterial infections that were once deadly, but it also led to a golden age in discovery of new antibiotics. The great benefit of these drugs is that antibiotics inhibit the growth of bacterial cells or kill them outright, and yet, on the whole, do not harm eukaryotic cells.

Answer BOTH of the following questions:

Given the following list of antibiotics and their targets, explain how each stops bacteria without harming human cells.

Considering the targets of these antibiotics, explain why they would not be useful for treating a viral infection.

Antibiotic

Target

Penicillin

Blocks cell wall synthesis

Tetracycline

Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 30S Unit of the ribosome

Chloramphenicol

Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 50S Unit of the ribosome

Sulfonamides

Inhibit folic acid synthesis

Vancomycin

Blocks cross-linking of the peptidoglycan in the cell wall

Read this to enhance your understanding of the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells: How do antibiotics kill bacterial cells but not human cells?

See a comparison of bacterial and viral features here: Differences between bacteria and viruses.

Follow these guidelines for your paper:

Utilize at least 1 credible source to support the arguments presented in the paper. Make sure you cite appropriately within your paper, and list the reference(s) in APA format on your Reference page.

Your paper should be 1–2 pages in length, not counting the Title page and Reference page.

Antibiotic

Target

Penicillin

Blocks cell wall synthesis

Tetracycline

Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 30S Unit of the ribosome

Chloramphenicol

Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 50S Unit of the ribosome

Sulfonamides

Inhibit folic acid synthesis

Vancomycin

Blocks cross-linking of the peptidoglycan in the cell wall

Explanation / Answer

Penicillin stops the bacteria without harming human cells by preventing the final cross-linking step, or it is known as the transpeptidation which is used in the assembly of this macromolecule. This results in a fragile cell wall which ends up bursting and , killing the bacterium.It causes no harm to the human host because penicillin ensures that it doesnt inhibit any biochemical process which actually goes on within out body

On the other hand the antibiotic--tetracycline ensures inhibiting the bacterial growth and this is done by stopping the process f protein synthesis. The bacteria along with the humans carry out protein synthesis and this happens on the various kinds of structures called ribosomes. Tetracycline is able to cross the membranes which are present in the bacteria and it ensures the accumulation which is present in high concentrations inside the cytoplasm.

The Antibiotics are always useless against viral infections. This is because the viruses are simple and they end up using their host cells and this is done in order to perform the various activities for them.

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