Antibiotics

Discovered by : Alexander Fleming

Discovered in year : 1928

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by one organism that is destructive to another. Scientifically speaking, antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills, or inhibits the growth of, bacteria. The word 'Antibiotic' came from the word 'Antibiosis', a term coined in 1889 by Louis Pasteur's pupil Paul Vuillemin which means a process by which life could be used to destroy life. When antibiotics were first discovered they were called 'Wonder Drugs'. Generally, antibiotics are categorised into three categories - natural, semisynthetic and synthetic. Most antibiotics today are semisynthetic, modified chemically from original compounds found in nature, as is the case with beta-lactams (which include the penicillins, produced by fungi in the genus Penicillium, the cephalosporins, and the carbapenems). Antibiotics may be divided into two broad groups according to their effect on microorganisms: those that kill bacteria are bactericidal agents, while those that only impair bacterial growth are known as bacteriostatic agents. The first class of antibiotics, based on enzymatic activity, was followed in 1944 by a second one, composed mainly of amino acids: the peptide antibiotics. In the meantime, several other classes have followed: methicillins, vancomycins, aminoglycosides, macrolides, cephalosporins, quinolones, lipopeptides, glycopeptides, etc. They are all based on a mere 15 compounds, such as the beta-lactams to which penicillin and the cephalosporins belong. All currently used antibiotics were introduced between 1940 and 1962.

History and Development of Antibiotics

Between 2,500-3,000 years ago, the egyptians, the chinese and indians of central america stumbled over the discovery that some molds could be used as a cure. At that time they did not understand either diseases or treatments. They thought that it was magic. Some other antibiotics included beer soup mixed with snakeskins and turtle shells by the Sumerians and ointment made of frog bile and sour milk to treat the eyes by Babylonians.

Cinchona bark - The natives of South America used Cinchona bark to treat malaria. During the 17th century, it was introduced in Europe and became increasingly used to treat the disease in powdered form, which was very bitter. In 1820, two French scientists, Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Caventou identified the substance in the cinchona bark as quinine.

Germ Theory - In the 1860's Louis Pasture showed that many diseases were caused by bacteria. Later he discovered that we may be able to fight germs with other microbes. This led to the development of a theory named as 'Germ Theory'.

Carbolic Acid - In 1867 a surgeon named Joseph Lister began researching on Louis Pasteur's theory. He came to the conclusion that Carbolic acid (phenol) swabbed on wounds remarkably reduced the incidence of gangrene. During the 1890s two German doctors, Rudolf Emmerich and Oscar Low were the first to make an effective medication that they called pyocyanase from microbes. It was the first antibiotic to be used in hospitals. However, the drug often did not work.

Penicillium notatum - Then in 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming observed that colonies of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus could be destroyed by the mold Penicillium notatum, demonstrating antibacterial properties. This discovery recognised the potential of the mold as antibiotic agent

Prontosil - In 1935, a German chemist named Gerhard Domagk  discovered Prontosil, the first sulfa drug. It became the first commercially available antibacterial antibiotic

Penicillin - In 1942, the manufacturing process for Penicillin, G Procaine was invented by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain. Penicillin could now be sold as a drug.

Streptomycin - In 1943, American microbiologist Selman Waksman made the drug streptomycin from soil bacteria, the first of a new class of drugs called aminoglycosides. Streptomycin could treat diseases like tuberculosis, however, the side effects were often too severe.

Tetracycline - In 1955 Tetracycline was patented by Lloyd Conover, which became the most prescribed broad spectrum antibiotic in the United States.

Nystatin - In 1957, Nystatin was patented and used to cure many disfiguring and disabling fungal infections.

Amoxicillin - In 1981 SmithKline Beecham patented Amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium tablets and first sold the antibiotic in 1998 under the tradenames of Amoxicillin, Amoxil, and Trimox. Amoxicillin is a semisynthetic antibiotic.

Oxazolidinones - The new class of oxazolidinones followed in 2000. These newcomers function by blocking protein synthesis in bacteria.

Role of the discovery of antibiotic in the improvement of human life

• Longevity of human life, to a great extent is the effect of antibiotics.

• Human suffering and pain was reduced to a large extent

• As a result of various discoveries, today, more than 5,000 antibiotic substances are known.

• Continuous production and stability made antibiotics cheap products with safe supplies.

• More advances are being made in the field to reduce diseases and death