1. Bacterial Infections
1.1. Antibiotics [against-life}
1.1.1. Bacterial infections are typically treated with antibiotics.
1.1.1.1. Compared to viruses, bacteria have more specific parts that medicines can target.
1.1.1.2. Peptidoglycan Synthesis a common target for antibiotics because it requires several gene encoding enzymes to build its peptides, make its special sugars, and seal its cross bridges.
1.1.1.2.1. Vancomycin is an antibiotic that prevents cross-bridge formation in Clostridium difficile and drug resistent staphylococci.
1.1.1.3. Widespread use of antibiotics has caused the evolution of resistant strains. One such example is the enzyme beta-lactamase. Beta-lactamase cleaves penicillin, preventing it from inhibiting transpeptidase.
1.1.1.3.1. Antibiotics can also negatively affect the digestive system
2. Viral Infections
2.1. "Prevention is better than cure." (page 355 textbook)
2.1.1. Healthy immune systems can eliminate viral diseases such as influenza but other viruses like, hepatitis C, infect longterm.
2.2. Antiviral Agents
2.2.1. Antiviral Agents are used to slow the degeneration of cells caused by viruses. They are hard to discover and the demand for more is high.
2.2.2. Unlike bacteria, viruses have fewer specific parts that medicines can target.
2.2.3. Viral replication involves a lot of host cell processes, meaning that antiviral agents that disrupt viral infection can also harm the host. Antiviral agents have severe side effects.
2.2.4. Viruses possess small genomes that enable them to mutate quickly. This rapid mutation means that one antiviral agent doesn't work for very long.
2.2.4.1. For example, patients with HIV may take 2-3 antivirals in combination to delay loss of effectiveness.