Antimicrobial agents work through various mechanisms: - Inhibition of cell wall synthesis: For example, penicillin interferes with the construction of bacterial cell walls. - Disruption of cell membrane function: Antifungals like amphotericin B bind to fungal cell membranes, causing them to leak. - Inhibition of protein synthesis: Antibiotics like tetracyclines and macrolides bind to bacterial ribosomes, preventing protein production. - Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis: Antivirals such as acyclovir inhibit viral DNA replication.
