Metronidazole Research Paper

11. What conditions are treated with metronidiazole? What is the mode of action of this drug?
Metronidazole or commonly known as Flagyl is a widely used amoebicide used to treat mild to severe intestinal infections and hepatic disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica. It works by invading essential metabolic enzymes of the pathogens and is also used for infections caused by Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis.

12. Name and describe the modes of actions of the drugs used to treat tapeworms.
Mebendazole and thiabendazole are broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs used to treat roundworm infections. These drugs work in the intestine to inhibit the functioning of microtubules of worms, eggs and larvae. Inhibiting microtubules interferes
An example, is bacterial exoenzymes called beta-lactamases that hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of some penicillins and cephalosporins. The drugs are now inactive and the enzymes that do this are called penicillinase and cephalosporinase. Staph aureus produces penicillinase, so penicillin is not a drug of choice for this species. Neisseria gonorrhoeae also produces penicillinase and thus one needs an alternative drug to treat gonorrhea. Gram-negative bacteria that have an outer membrane have a natural blockade to prevent penicillin drugs from entering the cell. Resistance to tetracyclines results from proteins that pump the drug out of the cell. Aminoglycoside resistance has developed through changes in drug permeability. This is caused by a point mutation in proteins that make up the transport system or outer membrane. Many bacteria have multidrug-resistant (MDR) pumps that actively transport drugs and other chemicals out of the cells. Most are nonspecific, meaning they can pump a variety of different drugs out of the cells. Bacteria can change the shape of receptors drugs would normally bind to and the change in receptor shape is usually due to a point mutation. Erythromycin resistance is due to an alteration on the 50S ribosomal binding sites. Penicillin resistance in Strep pneumoniae and methicillin resistance in Staph aureus is due to a change in the binding proteins in the cell wall. Fungi can become resistant by decreasing their synthesis of ergosterol. Ergosterol is the main receptor for certain antifungal drugs. Resistance occurs if the microbe can alter or shut down a particular metabolic pathway. Sulfonamide and trimethoprim resistance develops when microbes deviate from the mormal folic acid synthesis pathway. Fungi can acquire resistance to flucytosine by completely shutting down certain metabolic