Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Alexander Fleming discovered the first antimicrobial agent, penicillin (a β-lactam), in \n1928 in the mold Penicillium notatum. Penicillin was initially found to be active against \nstaphylococcal strains, which at that time were a major source of infectious diseases. Indeed, \nthe mortality rate of individuals with severe Staphylococcus aureus infection in the early \n1940’s was about 80% [1]. The discovery of penicillin gave clinicians an effective means to \ncombat fatal microbial infections for the first time. Since that time, many different types of \nantimicrobial agents have been discovered, including aminoglycosides, macrolides and \ncephalosporins to name but a few. Further, current advances in biochemistry and engineering \nnow mean that novel antimicrobial agents can be produced by 1) synthetically altering the \nstructure of known antimicrobial agents, or by 2) high throughput screening strategies. \nHowever, even as new antibiotics are being discovered, bacteria are acquiring mechanisms to \nneutralise their effect.
Author: Mushtaq Ahmad Khan
Language: English
Subfield: Microbiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1491428097