Final answer:
b) Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are the antibiotics that disrupt cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and contain a beta-lactam ring. They work by inhibiting the cross-linking in peptidoglycan, leading to bacterial cell bursting.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibacterial medications that disrupt cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and share a chemical structure called a beta-lactam ring include Cephalosporins. The cell wall is critical for bacterial survival, as it protects them by preventing osmotic lysis. Antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins are bactericidal because they interfere with the synthesis of peptidoglycan, which is a critical component of bacterial cell walls.
Cephalosporins, similar to penicillins, contain a β-lactam ring that inhibits the transpeptidase cross-linking activity of penicillin-binding proteins, which is crucial for cell wall synthesis. By preventing the proper formation of cell walls, these antibiotics cause bacterial cells to burst due to osmotic pressure.
It's important to note that only Cephalosporins among the given options - which include Quinolones, Cephalosporins, Sulfonamides, and Aminoglycosides - have the β-lactam ring structure that makes them effective against cell wall synthesis in bacteria.