Abstract
This chapter looks at antibacterial agents, such as the sulphonamides, penicillins, and cephalosporins, which act by inhibiting enzymes and synthetic enzyme inhibitors. It explores the principle of chemotherapy. This involves the design of chemicals that show selective toxicity against bacterial cells, rather than mammalian cells. It also traces early antibacterial agents, such as salvarsan, prontosil, and the sulphonamides. It examines the discovery of penicillin and several classes of antibiotics that were isolated from fungal strains. The chapter discusses five main targets that antibacterial agents act on: cell metabolism, cell wall, plasma membrane, protein synthesis, and nucleic acid function. It mentions steric shields and looks at how these can be added to penicillins to protect them from bacterial β-lactamase enzymes.
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