Streptomycin

Definition

Streptomycin is an antibiotic that belongs to the aminoglycoside class, derived from the bacterium Streptomyces griseus. It is primarily used to treat infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria and has a significant role in inhibiting protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, disrupting the function of ribosomes during translation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Streptomycin was discovered in 1943 and was the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis, significantly improving treatment options for this disease.
2. It works by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of mRNA, which leads to the production of nonfunctional proteins.
3. While effective against a range of Gram-negative bacteria, streptomycin is less effective against Gram-positive bacteria due to differences in ribosomal structure.
4. Resistance to streptomycin can develop through mutations in ribosomal RNA or by enzymatic modification of the antibiotic itself.
5. Side effects of streptomycin include potential toxicity to the kidneys and hearing loss, making careful monitoring essential during treatment.

Review Questions

• How does streptomycin affect the process of protein synthesis in bacteria?
  • Streptomycin disrupts protein synthesis by binding specifically to the 30S ribosomal subunit. This binding causes the ribosome to misread mRNA, leading to incorrect amino acid incorporation into growing polypeptides. Consequently, this results in the production of defective proteins, which can severely impair bacterial growth and function.
• Discuss the implications of using streptomycin for treating tuberculosis and how its mechanism of action contributes to its effectiveness.
  • Streptomycin has been a cornerstone in the treatment of tuberculosis due to its ability to inhibit protein synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacterium relies on protein production for survival and replication, so when streptomycin disrupts this process, it effectively slows down or halts infection progression. Its introduction revolutionized tuberculosis management and highlighted the importance of targeting bacterial ribosomes in antibiotic therapy.
• Evaluate the impact of antibiotic resistance on the clinical use of streptomycin and discuss strategies that could be implemented to combat this issue.
  • Antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge to the clinical effectiveness of streptomycin, as mutations in ribosomal RNA or enzymatic modification can render the antibiotic ineffective. This resistance can lead to treatment failures and increased morbidity. Strategies to combat resistance include combination therapies that utilize streptomycin alongside other antibiotics, careful prescription practices to minimize unnecessary use, and ongoing research into new antibiotics or adjuvants that can enhance the efficacy of existing treatments.

Related terms

Aminoglycosides: A class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the ribosome, including streptomycin and gentamicin.

Ribosome: A complex molecular machine found within all living cells that synthesizes proteins by translating messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptide chains.

Bacteriostatic: A term referring to substances that inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, as opposed to killing them outright.