Chapter 27, Problem 1RQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The term selective toxicity and its examples.

Introduction:

The compounds that are produced or obtained from a particular species of microorganisms and destroy or hinder the development of other pathogenic microbes are known as antibiotics. Antibiotics play an important role in increasing the life span of humans and animals. They have improved their health and provided resistance against various diseases.

Explanation of Solution

Selective toxicity refers to the capacity of an antibiotic to target a specific element of infection caused by microbial physiology. Selective toxicity denotes the efficiency with which the antibiotics treat or work against the microorganisms. It should have the potential to kill or inhibit the bacteria and also protect the host from infection or any harm. The principle of selective toxicity is viable as the physiology of microbe is different from that of eukaryotes.

Peptidoglycan is a bacterial antibiotic target that is not present in eukaryotic cells. The structure of the ribosome is distinct between bacteria and eukarya. Thus, penicillin as well as tetracycline, inhibit the growth of bacteria. They are unseen to host cells, as they do not interact with them at low doses. Another example is the inhibition of protein synthesis. The 50S (Svedberg unit) ribosomal unit is the target and the antibiotic used is chloramphenicol.