1. Treatment of Infectious Diseases

2. Grouped into categories based on their modes of action:
Penicillins/cephalosporins interfere with layer of the cell wall
Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, erythromycins- may be toxic when used in high doses of prolonged periods of time
Rifampin-used for treatment of TB
Bacterial Treatments

3. Viral Infections Inhibitors
Highly toxic to host cells because viruses use the host’s metabolic enzymes in reproduction
Antiviral drugs target virus-specific enzymes
Acyclovir-used in treatment of genital herpes
Amantadine-used to shorten episodes of influenza
AZT-inhibit replication of HIV genome
Viral Infections Inhibitors

4. Fungus, Protozoa, Helminth Treatment
Highly toxic to mammals
Azole derivatives inhibit sterol syntheses
Amphotericin B- disrupts cell membrane- makes it leak-cell dies
Fungus, Protozoa, Helminth Treatment

5. Antimicrobial Resistance
Presents ongoing problems in the fight against infectious diseases
Most likely from indiscriminate use of antibiotics
Drug resistance has been an ongoing problem for about 60 years
Antimicrobial Resistance

6. Antimicrobial Resistance
Penicillin resistance noted as early as 1943
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-some strains resistant to all drugs
Resistance to antibiotics-result of changes in genetic information
Initially as mutations to existing genes
Many bacteria acquire these genes
Resistant genes are transferred to other members of same species
Antimicrobial Resistance