Antibiotics
Antibiotics
are antibacterials that come from microorganisms, or compounds that have a
molecular structure similar to materials produced by microorganisms. They are
based on the idea of microbial antagonism first observed by Pastur and Joubert
in 1877.
The
enzymes contained in bacteria, fungi and molds produce antibiotics. A potent
source of antibiotics is the microbes found in the soil. Other 14,000
antibitoics have been identified but most are useless as they are toxic to
humans
Antibacterials
Antibacterials
are compounds that attack microorganisms, the most useful ones are those that
attack illness-causing bacteria without harming the host. Some actually kill
bacteria but most inhibit their reproduction.
Bacteria
Bacteria are unicellular organisms having a sturdy peptide/carbohydrate
cell wall surrounding a fragile plasma membrane. Bacteria are classified by
shape. They occur as rods known as bacilli, spheres known as coca, spirals known
as spirilla and incomplete spirals, which are called vibrios.