Revision as of 15:58, 23 July 2008

Antibiotic Resistance Parts

Introduction to Antibiotic Resistance

The established mechanisms of antibiotic resistance include the following: (1.) Enzymes that inactivate the antibiotic [famously (a). beta-lactamases that destroy penicillins and related compounds and (b) enzymes that acetylate chloramphenicol]. (2.) Proteins that keep antibiotics from entering the cell (by blocking the outer-membrane pores). (3) Membrane-embedded channel proteins that actively pump antibiotics out of the cell. (4.) Proteins (and RNAs?) with altered drug binding sites. (Vancomycin resistance comes from a switch in the chemistry of the cell-wall cross-linking peptide). This category also includes mutations in ribosomal RNA -- ribosomes are one of the main targets of both prokaryote- and eukaryote-directed antibiotics. (5.) Proteins that enable substitution of an alternative metabolic pathway (as in the case of sulfonamide resistance).

Parts by Category

1. Antibiotic-inactivating Enzymes

2. Membrane-blocking Proteins

3. Membrane-embedded Efflux Pumps

4. Altered Target Molecules

5. Components of Alternative Metabolic Pathways

Useful Information about Antibiotic Resistance

Links

Aminoglycoside Resistance

This category includes kanamycin, streptomycin, gentamycin, neomycin, tobramycin, amikacin...

http://www.antibioresistance.be/aminoglycosides.html http://openwetware.org/wiki/Kanamycin