Question

Vancomycin

A) disruption of cytoplasmic membranes
B) inhibition of cell wall synthesis
C) inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis
D) inhibition of metabolic pathways
E) inhibition of protein synthesis

Answer 1

Vancomycin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, specifically by binding to cell wall precursors and blocking the trans glycosylation and transpeptidation steps, leading to osmotic lysis in susceptible gram-positive bacteria due to their inability to maintain a stable cell wall.

Step-by-step explanation:

The drug vancomycin belongs to the class of glycopeptides and is primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria. Its mechanism involves the inhibition of cell wall synthesis by binding to the ends of the peptide chains of cell wall precursors. This action structurally blocks transglycosylation and transpeptidation during the formation of the N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) backbone of the peptidoglycan structure, leading to bacterial death. The cell walls are vital for bacterial survival, and their disruption, thanks to the size and complex structure of vancomycin, leads to the bacterium being more susceptible to osmotic lysis. This selective toxicity is because human cells do not have cell walls, making this a target specific to bacteria.