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What Does Penicilin Do for the Body?

Sir Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of penicillin in 1929. Referred to as a "miracle drug" in the wake of its discovery, penicillin has saved the lives of many who would have otherwise perished at the mercy of bacterial infections. Penicillin continues to be prescribed by physicians as an antibiotic to treat such illnesses as tuberculosis, syphilis and pneumonia.

  1. What Is Penicillin?

    • According to discoveriesinmedicine.com, the penicillin antibiotic is derived from the penicillium mold genus.

    How It Defends the Body

    • According to the Center for BioMolecular Modeling (see Resources), penicillin weakens the cell walls of bacteria by causing it to divide. The bacteria cells then collapse under the pressure of surrounding cells.

    Penicillin and Gram-Negative

    • Bacteria are broken up into two subgroups: gram-positive and gram-negative. The term "gram" relates to the staining method used to differentiate between differing types of bacteria that was invented by Hans Christian Gram. Although penicillin is highly successful in battling the gram-positive subgroup, penicillin has a difficult time helping the body fight off bacteria that is gram-negative.

    Peptidoglycan Synthesis

    • AbsoluteAstronomy.com explains that penicillin is highly attracted to a chemical called peptidoglycan and will overpower it in a process known as synthesis. Unlike gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria contains very little peptidoglycan, making it less susceptible to penicillin.

    Penicillin and Viruses

    • According to FamilyDoctor.org, penicillin cannot destroy virus cells, such as the type that cause the common cold. Viruses contain no cell walls or peptidoglycan. Therefore, penicillin cannot penetrate and destroy the cells.

    Penicillin Dangers

    • If you are allergic to penicillin, taking any penicillin-based antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or ampicillin, can cause a serious allergic reaction. MayoClinic.com reports that these allergic reactions involve the immune system and can cause rashes and breathing difficulties. Therefore, an alternative antibiotic must be prescribed.

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