Sulfacytine
Sulfacytine is a sulfonamide antibiotic used in the treatment of various bacterial infections. It is a synthetic derivative of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and works by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria, thereby preventing their growth.
History[edit | edit source]
Sulfacytine was first synthesized in the 1930s, following the discovery of the antibacterial properties of Prontosil, the first sulfonamide antibiotic. It was one of many sulfonamides developed in an attempt to create a broad-spectrum antibiotic with fewer side effects.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Sulfacytine, like other sulfonamides, is a competitive inhibitor of dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria. By mimicking the structure of PABA, a substrate of DHPS, sulfacytine is able to bind to the enzyme and prevent it from catalyzing the conversion of PABA to dihydropteroate, a precursor of folic acid. This inhibits the growth of bacteria by depriving them of the folic acid necessary for DNA synthesis.
Clinical Use[edit | edit source]
Sulfacytine is used in the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, and skin infections. It is also used in combination with other antibiotics in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
Common side effects of sulfacytine include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In rare cases, it can cause serious side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe skin reaction, and hemolytic anemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made.
Resistance[edit | edit source]
Resistance to sulfacytine and other sulfonamides has become increasingly common among many types of bacteria. This is often due to mutations in the gene encoding DHPS, which can alter the enzyme's structure and prevent sulfacytine from binding to it.
| This article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by registering to expand it. |
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
