#Early history of antibiotic disco
Since their discovery, antibiotics have revolutionised medicine. They've played a major role in improving life expectancy by treating bacterial diseases that were once fatal. The rise of resistant bacteria is a serious threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics, and highlights the need for responsible use of these drugs as well as ongoing research.Although the term "antibiotics" was coined by scientists in 1942, their story began much earlier.. He discovered accidentally that a mold called *Penicillium notatum* produces a substance which kills many types of bacteria. Penicillin was the first antibiotic, and it became widely used for treating infections like pneumonia, syphilis, and tuberculosis that had killed millions.In the middle of the 20th century, after the discovery and development of penicillin, other antibiotics such as streptomycin, tetracycline, and erythromycin were created, leading to major advances in medicine. However, some are synthesized or engineered for increased effectiveness.
#Antibiotics: How they Work#
Antibiotics target specific aspects of bacteria cells to either kill them (bactericidal), or stop their growth (bacteriostatic). Bacteria are very different from human cell structure and function, making them a good target for antibiotics. Antibiotics work on bacteria in several ways.
1. *Cell wall synthesis inhibitor**: Many antibiotics such as penicillin work by interfering the synthesis bacterial cell walls. To maintain their shape, bacteria need strong cell wall. Bacteria become weak and die when this process is disrupted. 2. Antibiotics like tetracycline or erythromycin inhibit protein synthesis by binding to ribosomes in bacteria. Bacteria cannot reproduce or grow if they do not produce enough protein.
3. *DNA replication interference** Some antibiotics, such as quinolones, prevent bacteria from reproducing their DNA. Bacteria cannot reproduce their genetic material and will die if they are not able to do so.
4. **Inhibition of folic acid synthesis**: Certain antibiotics, such as sulfonamides, target bacteria's ability synthesize folic acids. This is essential for DNA andRNA synthesis. Bacteria cannot survive or divide without folic acid.Antibiotics can be classified according to their structure, range of activity (whether or not they are effective against a large number of bacteria) and type of bacteria that they target. There are basically two types of antibiotics.
Amoxicillin and Tetracycline are examples.
Penicillin, for example, is more effective against *Streptococcus* bacteria, but less effective on *E.coli* bacteria.Antibiotics are classified according to their origin.
#Emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance#
**Natural Antibiotics**: These are substances that come from nature, like fungi and soil bacteria. Natural antibiotics include penicillin and streptomycin. **Semi synthetic antibiotics**: These antibiotics are chemically modified versions of natural ones, which have been designed to improve their properties.
**Synthetic Antibiotics** are not natural but man-made. Sulfonamides is a group of synthetic anti-biotics that's well known.Bacteria can become resistant over time to antibiotics. It can happen due to mutations in the genes or acquiring resistance genes through other bacteria.
Overuse: When antibiotics prescribed unnecessarily, (such as in the case of viral infections that they are not effective against), bacteria are exposed without being eliminated. This can lead to resistant strains surviving and spreading.
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