Penicillin inhibits bacterial growth and reproduction

This remedy was discovered almost a century ago and brought medicine to a whole new level. Many diseases became curable after its discovery. It's about penicillin, the first antibiotic.

Penicillin inhibits bacteria from their synthesis, which prevents development and reproduction. The importance of the discovery of this drug for pharmacology can not be overemphasized. Today, penicillin saves lives. But what was before its discovery? Who made such a gift to humanity? This is in the article.

What is penicillin?

Penicillin suppresses the growth of bacteria and is a product of the life (synthesis) of the fungus penicillium. This fungus is a kind of mold.

What is the peculiarity of this substance? Even those who have missed biology lessons at school, even heard the word "bacterium" at least a couple of times, and most likely know that these microorganisms have both a positive effect on the human body (lacto-, bifidobacteria) and negatively. Some small "monsters" cause dangerous diseases: meningitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, diphtheria - only a hundredth part of them. Penicillin suppresses vital bacteria in bacteria (see below), rather than stopping their reproduction. That is, the type of action we describe is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

A bit of history

In 1928 (almost a century ago) in the laboratory of the scientist Alexander Fleming there was an unfortunate accident for the biologist. By chance, the mold got into its capacity with the sowing of bacteria. And while the scientist reflected on how to deal with the disturbed process of the experiment, he noticed that something was wrong with the bacteria in the tank. As we already know, penicillin suppresses synthesis in bacteria, which stops their reproduction. The purest bactericidal action of the mold fungus surprised and puzzled Fleming. This accident began research. But the first antibiotic was not treated until two decades later.

In 1940-1941, British scientists Howard Chlori and Ernst Cheyn dedicated their knowledge and enthusiasm to penicillin and began introducing it into pharmacology. At the conclusion of the Second World War, in 1945, these scientists and the discoverer Fleming deservedly received the Nobel Prize.

The role of penicillin discovery for medicine, or What was up

Many terrible diseases, instantly taking lives and health of people, have become a thing of the past precisely due to the receipt of the first antibiotic. The significance of this achievement of science can not be overemphasized. Anyone who has ever been sick because of a bacterial infection will agree to this.

Penicillin suppresses the synthesis of proteins in bacteria, that is, does not allow microorganisms to develop and multiply, and now, due to the multitude of antibiotics based on it, many infections have become curable almost without consequences for the body. It is difficult and terrible to imagine that this was not always the case.

A century ago (not in average, or, in general, stone centuries, as many believe), people died of diseases that we now proudly carry on their feet, muffling them with a handful of different pills. Banal angina could kill a person's life in a week, pneumonia - even faster. And meningitis was considered incurable, if there were survivors, they lost their cogitative activity almost entirely, for which the insidious disease was called "the thief of reason". The discovery that penicillin inhibits bacteria their growth and vital activity has saved thousands of lives and will save billions more. Many microorganisms are defeated with the help of scientists. It is known that penicillin (or rather mold from fruits and even camel sleds) was treated before opening. However, only official recognition of the products of the fungus has made the antibiotic available to everyone.

The use of penicillin today

Despite the fact that after the discovery of the first antibiotic, scientists of many countries discovered other groups of antibacterial agents, the use of penicillin is an effective solution in the treatment of many infectious diseases. Many gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are sensitive to the drug . For example, the ubiquitous streptococci and staphylococci, the corynebacteria that inhabit the ground and cause a minimum of rash, the maximum is a terrible disease-diphtheria, microbes that cause meningitis and pneumonia, purulent infectious angina and abscesses.

What is treated with penicillin antibiotics

We offer a list of the most known diseases that are now treated with antibiotics of the penicillin series (Amoxiclav and Ampicillin, Bicillin, Augmentin):

• Scarlet fever.
• Acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis).
• Pneumonia.
• Anthrax.
• Rheumatism.
• Heavy erysipelas.
• Meningitis of bacterial etiology.
• Sepsis.
• Staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.
• Infected purulent wounds of traumatic or postoperative origin.

As you know, this list is not complete. Staphylococcus alone is of several types and causes dozens of different diseases. Penicillin inhibits bacterial synthesis of the cell wall, which stops their reproduction, disrupts the life cycle.

The advantage of penicillin

Another plus of antibiotics of the penicillin series is their mild effect on the human body. Modern powerful antibiotics sometimes act on the principle of "stripping groups" - getting into the body, they destroy the entire microflora - both pathogenic and positive, necessary for adequate work of the intestine and the immune system. Penicillin inhibits bacteria growth and development, so after the destruction of pathogens, the bacteria are positive, necessary, remain alive, but in a depressed state. Their balance can easily be restored with the help of fermented milk products or special pharmaceutical products. The action of penicillin, despite the fact that many call this antibiotic obsolete, effective, but rather mild, so it is prescribed even to the newborn. By the way, staphylococcus, which previously occupied maternity hospitals and hospitals and bled infants, became less dangerous due to penicillin.

How Penicillin Suppresses Bacterial Activity

How does this tool work? Let's try to describe its effect and what Alexander Fleming saw in his study a century ago.

Bacteria - very resistant to various negative factors, microorganisms. Some species calmly inhabit volcanic lava or arctic ice. They are everywhere - in soil and water, food, animal hair, fruits and vegetables. But do not panic and hide in a sterile room - if your body is healthy and strong, the immune system is working at full strength, then you should not be afraid of microbes. Many are just as free to live in our body and are activated only after serious stress or weakening of it.

When the bacteria attacked, there is salvation - an antibiotic. For example, penicillin (suppresses bacteria synthesis of DNA and interferes with reproduction). How does this happen? Getting into the human body, an antibiotic flow of blood is carried throughout the body. Hotspots of infection are quickly detected by them. In a place of "dislocation" of microbes penicillin penetrates through membranes of microorganisms and stops their synthesis. Bacteria lose the ability to eat and develop, which, accordingly, leads to their death.