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Mechanisms of Killing of Bacteria by 4-Quinolones

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The 4-Quinolones: Anti Bacterial Agents in Vitro

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Applied Biology ((SSAPPL.BIOLOGY))

Abstract

The 4-quinolones are a major new class of potent orally-absorbed antibacterial agents. These drugs, derivatives of the earlier marketed drugs nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid, include norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, temafloxacin, spafloxacin, and others. A favorable property of the 4-quinolones is rapid killing of bacteria. Mechanisms of killing, however, are not well understood (Smith and Lewin 1988; Wolfson et al. 1989d), despite considerable knowledge of the effects of these drugs on the intracellular target, the enzyme DNA gyrase, and on cellular metabolic processes (Cozzarelli 1980; Geliert 1981; Drlica 1984; Wang 1987). Information on mechanisms of killing of bacteria by 4-quinolones will be reviewed, discussing definitions and methodology, the killing phenomenon, studies of mechanisms, differences among 4-quinolones, and bacterial mutants exhibiting reduced killing.

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Authors
  1. J. S. Wolfson
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  2. D. C. Hooper
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO1 5DD, UK

    Geoff C. Crumplin

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Wolfson, J.S., Hooper, D.C. (1990). Mechanisms of Killing of Bacteria by 4-Quinolones. In: Crumplin, G.C. (eds) The 4-Quinolones: Anti Bacterial Agents in Vitro. Springer Series in Applied Biology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3449-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3449-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3451-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3449-7

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