Final answer:
Antibacterial antibiotics target cellular structures such as cell wall biosynthesis, protein synthesis, DNA replication, RNA synthesis, and folate synthesis in bacteria, offering a high degree of selective toxicity to treat bacterial infections without harming human cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibacterial antibiotics can disrupt various cellular targets to combat bacterial infections. Here are five possible targets these drugs may affect:
- Cell Wall Biosynthesis - Antibiotics like penicillin inhibit the synthesis of peptidoglycan, which is crucial for bacterial cell wall integrity. This is highly effective as humans do not have peptidoglycan cell walls.
- Protein Synthesis - Certain antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, target the bacterial ribosome, disrupting protein synthesis which is vital for cell survival.
- DNA Replication - Drugs such as fluoroquinolones inhibit DNA gyrase, an enzyme necessary for DNA replication in bacteria.
- RNA Synthesis - Rifampin is an example that binds to bacterial RNA polymerase, thus hindering the synthesis of RNA.
- Folate Synthesis - Sulfonamides act by inhibiting folate synthesis, a pathway necessary for DNA, RNA, and protein production in bacteria.
Each antibiotic has a unique mode of action, which provides selective toxicity, killing or inhibiting bacterial growth while minimizing harm to the host. Additionally, gram-negative bacteria can develop drug resistance by limiting drug accumulation through changes in membrane lipid composition or porin channels.