Antibiotics interfere with the survival mechanisms of bacteria, exerting a powerful antibacterial effect, but they have faced new challenges with the emergence of resistant bacteria. We explore the working principles of antibiotics and ways to overcome resistance.
In China, people have used moldy tofu to treat rashes and boils for 2,500 years, and in Korea, people have used soybean paste on wounds as a folk remedy, which means that our ancestors already knew the efficacy of the antibiotic substance in soybean paste. This shows that ancient people discovered and used various treatment methods in nature. Even in the West, before Fleming discovered penicillin, the concept of “antibiotics,” that “one microorganism can kill another microorganism,” was already known, but research and active application of it was lacking. These early discoveries laid the foundation for the development of antibiotics, but lacked a systematic and scientific approach.
In modern times, antibiotics have played an important role in various fields. In medicine as well as agriculture, antibiotics have become an essential tool for the prevention and treatment of livestock diseases, which is directly linked to food safety. However, the overuse of antibiotics can cause serious problems. For example, antibiotics used in livestock can be passed on to humans, promoting the development of resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly manage and regulate the use of antibiotics.
Among the hundreds of antimicrobial agents that have been developed so far, some have been isolated from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that actually live in nature, and others have been chemically synthesized. Among them, drugs such as isoniazid and ethambutol, which are used to treat tuberculosis, are not considered antibiotics because they are synthetic and not produced by living microorganisms. Antibiotics and antimicrobials are distinguished by their source and mode of action, which has important implications for drug selection and treatment strategies. In addition, while antibiotics derived from nature can often be effective against a broader spectrum of microorganisms, synthetic antibiotics are often targeted at specific pathogens.
The principle by which penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered by humans, acts on bacteria is as follows. Generally, the cell wall of bacteria has a layer called peptidoglycan, and in the final stage of its biosynthesis, the sugar protein outside the cell wall is connected by an enzyme called transpeptidase. Penicillin inhibits the action of this enzyme, preventing the growth and differentiation of bacteria that have infected the human body, thereby causing the bacteria to die off. The enzymes of bacteria called autolysins are involved in the lysis of bacteria, and penicillin reduces the autolysin inhibitors present in the bacteria so that the cells break down quickly. This fact became known when a mutant strain of bacteria was isolated that did not dissolve even when penicillin was used to inhibit bacterial growth. As such, penicillin directly interferes with the survival mechanism of bacteria, exerting a strong antibacterial effect. However, bacteria that are resistant to penicillin have also emerged, preventing penicillin from being activated by penicillin-degrading enzymes. Such bacteria are said to be resistant to penicillin, and such resistant bacteria can be treated by selecting antibiotics with a completely different mechanism of action.
The only time we directly administer antibiotics to our bodies is when we have a severe cold. In the early stages of a cold, we leave the influenza virus that caused the cold alone and use painkillers, decongestants, and antipyretics to improve symptoms such as headache, runny nose, and fever. However, when a secondary infection occurs around the throat in the final stage, doctors often prescribe antibiotics to patients. This is to prevent complications caused by bacterial infections rather than viruses. If the symptoms do not improve, the amount of antibiotics may be increased or a different antibiotic may be prescribed. This is necessary because the resistance of bacteria and the effectiveness of drugs may vary from patient to patient.
To overcome antibiotic resistance, there is a constant need for completely different types of antibiotics than those that have been used so far. The increase in resistant bacteria presents a major challenge to the medical community, and this involves more than simply developing new drugs, but also includes optimizing the use of antibiotics, preventing their misuse, and finding ways to recycle existing drugs. To solve the problem of resistant bacteria, global cooperation is needed and an international regulatory and management system must be established. For this reason, many researchers and pharmaceutical companies are still searching every corner of the earth to find new types of antibiotics and continue their research and development. This is because they want to continue to maintain the advantage that humans have gained so far in the war against bacteria. Whether the bacteria die or the human dies, even the Creator would not want the human being he created with love to disappear from this earth. Only humans have the wisdom to use penicillin missiles produced by blue mold to fight bacteria on this earth. In the future, humanity will continue to win the war against bacteria through constant research and innovation, and protect the health and lives of humanity.
In addition to the development of antibiotics, prevention and education are also important. There is a need for public awareness and educational programs on the proper use of antibiotics, and the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions should be improved through continuous education of medical staff. In addition, ecological research and biotechnological approaches to discover new antibiotic substances derived from nature are also important. Nature still holds many secrets, and there is a great possibility that new treatments can be found within them. It is important to preserve natural resources and protect human health through environmental protection and sustainable development.
In conclusion, the development of antibiotics and overcoming antibiotic resistance is an area that requires continuous research, innovation, and global cooperation. Antibiotics are an important element that forms the foundation of modern medicine and have helped humankind overcome many diseases. These efforts must continue, and through them, we will be able to create a healthier and safer world.
