Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Antimicrobial Drug Action

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. The development of antimicrobial agents, past, present and future

   Pages 1-15

3. Vulnerable shields—the cell walls of bacteria and fungi

   Pages 17-45

4. Antimicrobial agents and cell membranes

   Pages 47-64

5. Inhibitors of nucleic acid biosynthesis

   Pages 65-83

6. Inhibitors of protein biosynthesis

   Pages 85-105

7. Antimicrobial drugs with other modes of action

   Pages 107-120

8. Attack and defense: drug transport across cell walls and membranes

   Pages 121-134

9. The genetic basis of resistance to antimicrobial drugs

   Pages 135-148

10. Biochemical mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial drugs

    Pages 149-174

11. Back Matter

    Pages 175-182

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Preface to the sixth edition x 1 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE 1 1. 1 The social and economic importance of antimicrobial agents 1 1. 2 All outhne of the historical development of antimicrobial agents 2 1. 3 Reasons for studying the biochemistry and molecular biology of antimicrobial compounds 9 1. 4 Uncovering the molecular basis of antimicrobial action iO 1. 5 Current trends in the discovery of antimicrobial drugs 14 1. 6 . Scope and layout of the book 15 2 VULNERABLE SHIELDS—THE CELL WALLS OF BACTERIA AND FUNGI 17 2. 1 Functions of the ceU wall 17 2. 2 . Structure of the bacterial wall 17 2. 3 Structure and biosynthesis of peptidoglycan 22 2. 4 Antibiotics that inhibit peptidoglycan biosynthesis 29 2. 5 Drugs that interfere with the biosynthesis of the cell wall of mycobacteria 39 2. 6 The fungal cell wall as a target for antifungal drugs 41 3 ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CELL MEMBRANES 47 3. 1 Microbe killers: antiseptics and disinfectants 47 3. 2 Cationic peptide antibiotics 52 3. 3 lonophoric antibiotics 54 3. 4 Antifungal agents that interfere with the function and biosynthesis of membrane sterols 59 4 INHIBITORS OF NUCLEIC ACID BIOSYNTHESIS 65 4. 1 Compounds affecting the biosynthesis and utilization of nucleotide precursors 66 4. 2 Nucleoside analogues 70 4. 3 Inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus 72 4. 4 Antibacterial inhibitors of topoisomerases 75 4.

• biochemistry
• biology
• biosynthesis
• chemistry
• enzymes
• infectious disease
• molecular biology
• infectious diseases

From the reviews of the sixth edition:

"This sixth edition builds on the successful formula of its predecessors with an accessible small format, clear diagrams and illustrations, key antibiotic structures and an engaging explanatory text. … the great strength ... is that it has managed to convey the essentials of the topic without … expanding in girth at each edition. … this book remains the first port of call for those requiring an overview of the topic or seeking a starting point for more in-depth information on an unfamiliar antimicrobial." (Jonathan H Cove, British Toxicology Society Newsletter, Winter, 2005)

• AstraZeneca Alderley Park, Macclesfield Cheshire, England

  T. J. Franklin, G. A. Snow

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