Antimicrobial Agents
Antimicrobial Agents - Related Videos
01:18
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
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2024
Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
06:19
Galleria mellonella as an Antimicrobial Screening Model
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Cited by 8 •
2024
This study presents a standardized framework for optimizing G. mellonella infection models for use in preclinical antimicrobial assessment. The application of a G. mellonella model as part of a preclinical antimicrobial development pipeline could decrease the number of ineffective compounds progressing to clinical trials.
11:10
Expression, Purification, and Antimicrobial Activity of S100A12
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Cited by 14 •
2017
Here, we present a method to express and purify S100A12 (calgranulin C). We describe a protocol to measure its antimicrobial activity against the human pathogen H. pylori.
10:35
Production and Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Mimics
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2026
This protocol describes a method for producing and evaluating the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the cationic peptide Mel4 and peptide mimic RK758. By integrating chemical synthesis, recombinant expression, and standardized functional assays, it provides a streamlined workflow for the production and testing of peptides and small-molecule mimics.
10:50
Qualitative and Quantitative Assays for Detection and Characterization of Protein Antimicrobials
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Cited by 11 •
2016
Here, we present protocols to rapidly screen and characterize enzymes for antimicrobial activity. The microslide diffusion assay and the dye-release assay utilize target bacterial substrates for qualitative and quantitative enzymatic activity evaluation.
FAQs
Selective action depends on targeting microbial features that host cells do not share in the same way. Depending on the agent, these targets may include bacterial cell-wall synthesis, microbial protein production, nucleic-acid replication, or viral entry and replication. This targeting helps suppress pathogens while limiting host-cell injury, although selectivity is not absolute and adverse effects remain relevant.
Antibacterial and antiviral strategies do not act through identical targets. Bacterial-directed agents can interfere with cell-wall synthesis, protein production, or nucleic-acid replication, whereas antiviral agents may act on viral entry or replication. This distinction matters when linking a suspected pathogen to a treatment approach, because the relevant microbial process determines whether an agent can act.
Resistance is a central limitation because antimicrobial activity can lose effectiveness against pathogens that are no longer susceptible. The overview also links agent use with adverse effects and microbiome disruption, so successful management requires balancing pathogen control with potential harm. Continued development of new therapies addresses the need for options when existing agents are inadequate.
Accurate diagnosis should precede appropriate agent selection whenever possible. Identifying the infection and its likely cause helps connect treatment to the relevant microbial target rather than applying an unsuitable therapy. In clinical and laboratory settings, this principle supports more effective infection management and helps address resistance, while also encouraging attention to possible adverse effects.
In immunology and infection research, these agents can be used to examine pathogen clearance and the host immune response. Their use supports investigation of how controlling microbial activity relates to immune responses, while also enabling study of antimicrobial resistance. This makes them relevant to both pathogen-focused questions and research on host-pathogen interactions.
Antimicrobial agents have roles beyond direct infection treatment. Clinical use focuses on preventing and treating infections, while laboratory studies examine resistance, pathogen clearance, immune responses, and microbiome disruption. These applications reveal important trade-offs: controlling pathogens can affect host-associated microbial communities, reinforcing the need for careful selection and continued development of new therapies.