Antibiotics
1928 Alexander Fleming (first discovery of effect)
1939 Isolation of the Penicillin G (Benzylpenicillin)
1943 First use in military (first civil use in 1944)
1945 Nobel Prize in medicine for Fleming, Florey and Chain
Next generation: Cephalosporins
How do they work?
The strain b-lactam ring reacts with and deactivates the transpeptidase enzyme, which is needed to repair bacterial cell walls. The weakening or damage of the cell wall causes bacteria to die. Bacteria that are resistant against penicillin produce b-lactamase, an enzyme that opens the lactam ring.