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. 2016 May 10;16:82. doi: 10.1186/s12866-016-0696-5

Table 1.

Mode of action of different classes of antibiotics

Mode of action Action Antibiotics
Cell wall synthesis inhibitors:
Inhibition of penicillin binding proteins (PBPs)		 bactericidal ß-lactam-antibiotics
Penicillin-derivatives:
Ampicillin, Carbenicillin
Cephalosporin-derivatives:
Cefalexin
DNA and protein synthesis inhibitors:
Inhibition of topoisomerase		 bactericidal Fluoroquinolones
Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin
Protein synthesis inhibitors:
Inhibition of 30s subunit		 bacteriostatic Tetracycline derivatives
Tetracycline, Doxycycline
Protein synthesis inhibitors:
Inhibition of 30s subunit		 bactericidal Aminoglycosides
Kanamycin, Streptomycin