BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE MODE OF ACTION OF SOME NEW ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS

Abstract

The present study was carried out to search for some new ampicillin derivatives that induce notable antimicrobial potentialities against broad-spectrum microorganism and to show the probable mechanism through which the most potent derivative exerts its action on the test organism. From screening program, benzene tricarbonyl I, 3, 5- trichloride with two molecules of ampicillin and one molecule of trimethoprim (TAMP) was substantially potent and exerting a pronounced antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria more than Gram negative one. Results of this study clearly indicated that, electron micrographs of TAMP treated B. subtilis cells demonstrate the morphological changes in the bacterial cells. Moreover, TAMP arrested the synthesis of B. subtilis cell wall as indicated by the accumulation of N-acetylglucosamine in the cytoplasm of the treated cells. The overall observed effect is a marked decrease in the intracellular macromolecules except the cellular lipid content. Also the compound inhibit dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme essential for cell growth. The resistance of B. subtilis cells toward this compound is often due to the acquisition of plasmid.