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Penicillin

About: Penicillin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 17916 publications have been published within this topic receiving 368480 citations. The topic is also known as: penicillin antibiotic & PCN.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Plausible hypotheses are put forward on the roles that the Penr protein fusions, acting as l,d-acyltransferases, may play in the (3→3) peptidoglycan-synthesizing molecular machines.
Abstract: The bacterial acyltransferases of the SxxK superfamily vary enormously in sequence and function, with conservation of particular amino acid groups and all-α and α/β folds. They occur as independent entities (free-standing polypeptides) and as modules linked to other polypeptides (protein fusions). They can be classified into three groups. The group I SxxK d,d-acyltransferases are ubiquitous in the bacterial world. They invariably bear the motifs SxxK, SxN(D), and KT(S)G. Anchored in the plasma membrane with the bulk of the polypeptide chain exposed on the outer face of it, they are implicated in the synthesis of wall peptidoglycans of the most frequently encountered (4→3) type. They are inactivated by penicillin and other β-lactam antibiotics acting as suicide carbonyl donors in the form of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). They are components of a morphogenetic apparatus which, as a whole, controls multiple parameters such as shape and size and allows the bacterial cells to enlarge and duplicate their particular pattern. Class A PBP fusions comprise a glycosyltransferase module fused to an SxxK acyltransferase of class A. Class B PBP fusions comprise a linker, i.e., protein recognition, module fused to an SxxK acyltransferase of class B. They ensure the remodeling of the (4→3) peptidoglycans in a cell cycle-dependent manner. The free-standing PBPs hydrolyze d,d peptide bonds. The group II SxxK acyltransferases frequently have a partially modified bar code, but the SxxK motif is invariant. They react with penicillin in various ways and illustrate the great plasticity of the catalytic centers. The secreted free-standing PBPs, the serine β-lactamases, and the penicillin sensors of several penicillin sensory transducers help the d,d-acyltransferases of group I escape penicillin action. The group III SxxK acyltransferases are indistinguishable from the PBP fusion proteins of group I in motifs and membrane topology, but they resist penicillin. They are referred to as Penr protein fusions. Plausible hypotheses are put forward on the roles that the Penr protein fusions, acting as l,d-acyltransferases, may play in the (3→3) peptidoglycan-synthesizing molecular machines. Shifting the wall peptidoglycan from the (4→3) type to the (3→3) type could help Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae survive by making them penicillin resistant.

197 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: Data indicate that it is safe to administer cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-allergic patients andPenicillin skin tests do not identify potential reactors, and post-marketing studies of second and third generation cep Halosporins showed no increase in allergic reactions in patients with penicillillin allergy histories.
Abstract: Objectives: The purpose of tits review was to analyze available relevant data regarding the safety of administering cephalosporins to penicillin-allergic patients, including the significance of penicillin skin test reactions and any difference related to first, second, or third generation cephalosporins. Background: Penicillin and cephalosporins both contain a beta-lactam ring. This structural similarity has led to considerable confusion about the cross-allergenicity of these drugs and the risk of allergic reactions from cephalosporins in penicillin-allergic patients. Methods: Published reports and post-marketing data from pharmaceutical corporations provided the basis for this analysis. Results: The overall incidence of adverse reactions from cephalosporins ranges from 1% to 10%, with rare anaphylaxis (<0.02%). In patients with histories of penicillin allergy the incidence of cephalosporin reactions is minimally, if at all increased. Post-marketing studies of second and third generation cephalosporins showed no increase in allergic reactions in patients with penicillin allergy histories. Penicillin skin tests do not predict the likelihood of allergic reactions to cephalosporins in patients with histories of perucillin allergy. One reaction occurred in 98 patients (1%) with positive penicillin skin tests and six reactions occurred in 310 patients (2%) with negative tests. Conclusions: These data indicate that it is safe to administer cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-allergic patients and penicillin skin tests do not identify potential reactors

197 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Data indicate that persistence of a positive culture may be related to large initial concentrations of bacteria, and are consistent with the hypothesis that lactic acid dehydrogenase activity in cerebrospinal fluid is derived from bacteria.

196 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 2011
TL;DR: Phylogenetic analysis of the most important penicillin producing P. chrysogenum isolates revealed the presence of two highly supported clades, and it is shown here that these two clades represent two species, P. lysogenum and P. rubens.
Abstract: Penicillium chrysogenum is a commonly occurring mould in indoor environments and foods, and has gained much attention for its use in the production of the antibiotic penicillin. Phylogenetic analysis of the most important penicillin producing P. chrysogenum isolates revealed the presence of two highly supported clades, and we show here that these two clades represent two species, P. chrysogenum and P. rubens. These species are phenotypically similar, but extrolite analysis shows that P. chrysogenum produces secalonic acid D and F and/or a metabolite related to lumpidin, while P. rubens does not produce these metabolites. Fleming’s original penicillin producing strain and the full genome sequenced strain of P. chrysogenum are re-identified as P. rubens. Furthermore, the well-known claim that Alexander Fleming misidentified the original penicillin producing strain as P. rubrum is discussed.

196 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that chloramphenicol should not be used for the management of PRSP meningitis; alternative agents, such as third-generation cephalosporins, are more appropriate.

195 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
2023459
2022907
2021249
2020269
2019221
2018192