Final answer:
Cephalosporins and penicillins differ in chemical structure, resistance to ß-lactamases, spectrum of activity, and the number of R groups in their molecular structure. Cephalosporins have a broader range of activity against bacteria and are less susceptible to enzymatic breakdown.
Step-by-step explanation:
To differentiate a cephalosporin from penicillin, one must look at their structural and functional characteristics. Both cephalosporins and penicillins belong to the ß-lactam class of antibiotics, but they have different chemical structures that provide each with unique properties. The key differences include:
- Cephalosporins have a ß-lactam ring fused to a six-member ring, whereas penicillins have a ß-lactam ring fused to a five-member ring.
- Cephalosporins possess increased resistance to enzymatic inactivation by ß-lactamases, making them less susceptible to certain bacterial enzymes that can destroy penicillins.
- While penicillin G and penicillin V are natural products derived from fungi, cephalosporins were originally isolated from the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium.
- Cephalosporins typically have a broader spectrum of activity against both gram-positive and more diverse gram-negative bacteria as compared to penicillins.
- The structure of cephalosporins allows for the existence of two R groups, which leads to the development of semisynthetic cephalosporins with varied chemical alterations.
In application, cephalosporins are one of the most widely used antibiotics with a significant share of the antibiotic market due to their low toxicity and effectiveness against various diseases.