Antimicrobials that affect the synthesis and conformation of nucleic acids

Rev Sci Tech. 2012 Apr;31(1):77-87, 65-76. doi: 10.20506/rst.31.1.2102.
[Article in English, French]

Abstract

Several antimicrobials act by inhibiting the synthesis of nucleic acids (rifamycins, sulfamides, diaminopyridines), modifying their conformation (quinolones, coumarins) or causing irreversible lesions (nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans). The resistance mechanisms are: a reduction in intracytoplasmic accumulation, modification of the target or the production of a new low-affinity target and, more rarely, enzyme inactivation. Although the mechanisms affecting the targets are specific to each family and can lead to high-level resistance, the reduced permeability of the membrane and the increased efflux are non-specific and result in low-level cross-resistance between several families. The genetic mediation is usually chromosomal for rifamycins and quinolones, although plasmid-mediated resistant genes have been observed. On the other hand, for sulfamides and trimethoprim, plasmid-borne genes are frequent. Resistance to nitroimidazoles and nitrofurans is still not widely understood.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Coumarins / pharmacology
  • DNA Replication / drug effects
  • DNA, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Nitrofurans / pharmacology
  • Nitroimidazoles / pharmacology
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation / drug effects*
  • Nucleic Acids / biosynthesis
  • Nucleic Acids / chemistry
  • Nucleic Acids / drug effects*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Quinolones / chemistry
  • Quinolones / pharmacology
  • Rifamycins / pharmacology
  • Sulfanilamides / chemistry
  • Sulfanilamides / pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Coumarins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Nitrofurans
  • Nitroimidazoles
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Pyrimidines
  • Quinolones
  • Rifamycins
  • Sulfanilamides
  • 4-nitroimidazole