Tag: Protein synthesis inhibitors

Streptogramins are effective in treating vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), two of the most rapidly growing strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria [1.2.1]. So, what class of drugs are streptogramins, and how do they work?

Lincosamides are a class of antibiotics that primarily function by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, a crucial process for bacterial replication and survival. These medications, which include the well-known drug clindamycin, target a specific part of the bacterial ribosome, making them a valuable tool for treating specific types of bacterial infections.

Over the past 60 years, macrolides have become a cornerstone in the treatment of many bacterial infections, with the first, erythromycin, being discovered in the 1950s. Macrolides are widely prescribed to combat various bacterial infections, including respiratory and skin infections, and are often used as an alternative for patients with penicillin allergies.

Streptogramins are a class of antibiotics that are significantly more effective when two distinct components are combined, demonstrating a synergistic and bactericidal effect against many resistant bacteria. Produced naturally by *Streptomyces* species, these drugs represent a critical last-resort option for severe, multidrug-resistant infections.

Aminoglycosides are a powerful class of antibiotics that have been used to treat serious bacterial infections for nearly 80 years. Their effectiveness hinges on a specific and potent mechanism: they interfere with protein synthesis, a process essential for bacterial survival.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics exert their potent bactericidal effect by targeting the protein synthesis machinery of bacteria. A crucial question for understanding their mechanism is, where do aminoglycosides bind? The answer lies within the bacteria's 30S ribosomal subunit, a key component for translating genetic code into functional proteins.