Educational resource · Not a medical device · Infectious diseases review in progress · Does not replace clinical judgement

Diagram — Targets of antibiotic classes — SeptiMap

place each major antibiotic class on its bacterial target: wall, membrane, ribosome, nucleic acids, folate. Educational resource, not a medical device.

Diagrams: mechanisms and principles

17 sourced diagrams · for medical students and practice

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Clinical years

Targets of antibiotic classes

Objective: place each major antibiotic class on its bacterial target: wall, membrane, ribosome, nucleic acids, folate.

Step 6 / 6
Targets of antibiotic classes1. Cell wall — β-lactams (on PBPs) and glycopeptides (on the D-Ala-D-Ala motif) block peptidoglycan synthesis. 2. Membrane — Polymyxins (LPS of the Gram-negative outer membrane); daptomycin (Gram-positive membrane). 3. 30S ribosome — Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines bind the 30S subunit. 4. 50S ribosome — Macrolides, lincosamides, oxazolidinones (linezolid) and amphenicols bind the 50S subunit. 5. Nucleic acids — Fluoroquinolones: DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV (replication). Rifampicin: DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (transcription). 6. Folate pathway — Sulfonamides (dihydropteroate synthase) and trimethoprim (dihydrofolate reductase) block two successive steps.11Cell wallβ-lactams (PBPs), glycopeptides22Membranepolymyxins, daptomycin3330S ribosomeaminoglycosides, tetracyclines4450S ribosomemacrolides, lincosamides, linezolid55Nucleic acidsfluoroquinolones: gyrase, topo IVrifampicin: RNA polymerase66Folate pathwaysulfonamides, trimethoprim
  • Pathogen
  • Structure
  • Immunity
  • Antibiotic

Key points

  • Wall: β-lactams (PBPs) and glycopeptides (D-Ala-D-Ala).
  • Ribosome: 30S (aminoglycosides, tetracyclines); 50S (macrolides, lincosamides, linezolid).
  • Fluoroquinolones: gyrase and topo IV; rifampicin: RNA polymerase; sulfonamides and trimethoprim: folate.

Classic pitfall

Grouping rifampicin with DNA inhibitors: it blocks RNA polymerase (transcription), not replication.

Sources

Educational content · Illustrative mechanisms · Not applicable to individual clinical decisions · MDR 2017/745

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