Selective Bacterial Killing
A new chemotherapeutic drug kills bacteria but not humans. Discuss the possible ways the drug may selectively act on bacterial cells.
A new chemotherapeutic drug that selectively kills bacteria while sparing human cells could achieve this specificity through several mechanisms, taking advantage of fundamental differences between bacterial and human cells. Here are some possible ways the drug may selectively act on bacterial cells:
1. Targeting Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis
Mechanism: Many bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, which provides structural support and protection. Human cells do not have peptidoglycan cell walls. The drug could inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis or disrupt the integrity of bacterial cell walls.
Selective Action: Human cells lacking peptidoglycan are unaffected by these inhibitors, while bacterial cells are unable to maintain their cell wall integrity. This leads to bacterial cell lysis…
A new chemotherapeutic drug that selectively kills bacteria while sparing human cells could achieve this specificity through several mechanisms, taking advantage of fundamental differences between bacterial and human cells. Here are some possible ways the drug may selectively act on bacterial cells:
1. Targeting Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis
Mechanism: Many bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, which provides structural support and protection. Human cells do not have peptidoglycan cell walls. The drug could inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis or disrupt the integrity of bacterial cell walls.
Selective Action: Human cells lacking peptidoglycan are unaffected by these inhibitors, while bacterial cells are unable to maintain their cell wall integrity. This leads to bacterial cell lysis…
A new chemotherapeutic drug that selectively kills bacteria while sparing human cells could achieve this specificity through several mechanisms, taking advantage of fundamental differences between bacterial and human cells. Here are some possible ways the drug may selectively act on bacterial cells:
1. Targeting Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis
Mechanism: Many bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, which provides structural support and protection. Human cells do not have peptidoglycan cell walls. The drug could inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis or disrupt the integrity of bacterial cell walls.(Selective Bacterial Killing)
Selective Action: Human cells lacking peptidoglycan are unaffected by these inhibitors, while bacterial cells are unable to maintain their cell wall integrity. This leads to bacterial cell lysis…
