Minor mutations can lead to big improvements in antibiotic resistance
Rice University scientists have found that mutations of small effect can turn out to be game changers in the bacterial fight against antibiotic drugs.
Rice University scientists have found that mutations of small effect can turn out to be game changers in the bacterial fight against antibiotic drugs.
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 9, 2013
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Minocycline (INN) is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic, and has a broader spectrum than the other members of the group. It is a bacteriostatic antibiotic, classified as a long-acting type. As a result of its long half-life it generally has serum levels 2-4 times that of the simple water-soluble tetracyclines (150 mg giving 16 times the activity levels compared to 250 mg of tetracycline at 24–48 hours).
Minocycline is the most lipid-soluble of the tetracycline-class antibiotics, giving it the greatest penetration into the prostate and brain, but also the greatest amount of central nervous system (CNS)-related side effects. These include vertigo and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), and are significantly more common in female patients.
Due to poor urinary excretion, minocycline is a relatively poor tetracycline-class antibiotic choice for urinary pathogens sensitive to this antibiotic class, as its solubility in water, and levels in the urine, are less than all other tetracyclines.
Minocycline is not a naturally-occuring antibiotic, but was synthesized semi-synthetically from natural tetracycline antibiotics by Lederle Laboratories in 1972, and marketed by them under the brand name Minocin.
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