2 Antibiotic modes of action

This figure shows a simplified 3D diagram of a prokaryotic bacterial cells as described in Figure 1 part (b). Each cellular component is labelled with the mode of antibiotic action that affects that structure. The labels contain a table describing the target of this mode of action and the antibiotic that exerts this effect. The first label is ‘Protein synthesis’. One target is small ribosome subunit and the attacking antibiotic is Aminoglycosides. The next target is large ribosome subunit, the attacking antibiotic for which is Oxazolidinones. The second label is ‘Metabolic reactions’. The target is Folic acid synthesis and the attacking antibiotic is Trimethoprim. The next label is ‘Cell wall synthesis’. The target is Peptidoglycan cross-linking and the attaching antibody is β-lactams: penicillins cephalosporins. The final label is ‘Nucleic acid synthesis’. The first target is enzymes which unwind DMA and its attacking antibiotic is Fluoroquinolones. The next target is RNA polymerase, the attacking antibiotic for which is Rifamycins.