Tag: Mechanisms of action

At its core, the principle of drugs is fundamentally a two-way interaction: the body acts on the drug (pharmacokinetics), and the drug acts on the body (pharmacodynamics). Understanding this dual process is crucial for comprehending how medications produce their therapeutic and adverse effects.

Since Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have revolutionized medicine [1.14.1]. So, what are the 5 mechanisms of action of antibiotics? These vital drugs combat bacteria by targeting five primary pathways, from disrupting cell walls to halting metabolic processes [1.2.2, 1.2.3].

The majority of antibiotics that block bacterial protein synthesis target either the 30S or 50S subunits of the 70S bacterial ribosome. This mechanism is highly effective because bacterial and human ribosomes have significant structural differences, allowing for selective targeting of the pathogen without harming the host. Understanding which classification of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis is key to appreciating their role in modern medicine.