Tag: Efflux pumps

According to a comprehensive 2018 review, a clinically relevant mechanism for macrolide resistance in pathogenic bacteria is the methylation of ribosomal RNA. This is just one of several strategies bacteria employ to circumvent these crucial antibiotics, posing a significant challenge to public health.

Linezolid, a synthetic oxazolidinone antibiotic, is not effective against *Escherichia coli* and other aerobic Gram-negative bacteria. Its spectrum of activity is primarily limited to Gram-positive pathogens, a crucial distinction in antimicrobial therapy that relies on the fundamental differences in bacterial cell structure. This limitation stems from protective mechanisms inherent to Gram-negative organisms, which prevent the drug from reaching its ribosomal target.

A remarkable 98% of small-molecule drugs and 100% of large-molecule biopharmaceuticals cannot effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a sophisticated protective layer designed to keep harmful substances away from the brain. This creates a significant challenge for therapeutics, raising the critical question of which drug cannot pass the blood-brain barrier and why.