Antibiotics act through several different mechanisms to interfere with bacteria. β-lactam antibiotics, for example, inhibit bacterial cell-wall synthesis, weakening the cell wall and potentially causing the cell to leak or break entirely. Some antibiotics target subunits of bacterial ribosomes, resulting in the inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis and preventing bacterial growth or reproduction. Antibiotics known as polymixins bind to components of the bacterial cell membrane, disrupting membrane structure and causing essential cellular contents to leak out. Sulfonamides block folic acid production, while the antibiotic rifampin interferes with bacterial RNA production.
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