Streptomycin

Posted on July 04, 2008 in Antibiotic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptomycin antiobiotic drug--> comes from a gram-positive bacterium (Actinobacterium). Streptomycin is an antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis. It is derived from the actinobacterium Streptomyces griseus. Streptomycin stops bacterial growth by damaging cell membranes and inhibiting protein synthesis. Specifically, it binds to the 23S rRNA molecule of the bacterial ribosome, which prevents the release of the growing protein (polypeptide chain). Humans have structurally different ribosomes than bacteria, thereby allowing the selectivity of this antibiotic for bacteria. Streptomycin cannot be given orally, but must be administered by regular intramuscular injection. [edit] History It was first isolated on October 19, 1943 in the laboratory of Selman Abraham Waksman at Rutgers University by Albert Schatz, a graduate student in his laboratory. Waksman and his laboratory discovered several antibiotics, including actinomycin, clavacin, streptothricin, streptomycin, grisein, neomycin, fradicin, candicidin, candidin, and others. Two of these, streptomycin and neomycin, found extensive application in the treatment of numerous infectious diseases. Streptomycin was the first antibiotic that could be used to cure the disease tuberculosis. Waksman is credited with having coined the term antibiotics. The details and credit for the discovery of streptomycin were strongly contested by Albert Schatz and resulted in litigation. The contention arose because Schatz was the graduate student in charge of performing the lab work on streptomycin; however, it was argued that he was using techniques, equipment and lab space of Waksman's while under Waksman's direction. There is contention as to whether or not Schatz should have been included in the Nobel Prize awarded in 1952. However, the committee stated that the Nobel Prize was awarded not only for the discovery of streptomycin but also for the development of the methods and techniques that led up to its discovery and the discovery of many other antibiotics. The litigation ended with a settlement for Schatz and the official decision that Waksman and Schatz would be considered co-discoverers of streptomycin. Schatz was awarded the Rutgers medal in 1994, at the age of 74. The controversy ultimately had a negative impact on the careers of both Waksman and Schatz and the controversy continues today.

Tags: streptomycin, schatz, waksman, antibiotic, discovery

Pharmacy student learns about medicine in Peru

Posted on April 14, 2008 in Pharmacy

Monday, July 02, 2007 College group also explores foreign culture, canoes down Amazon and climbs Machu Picchu. By GINA VASSELLI The Express-Times Ryan Toth canoed down the Amazon, stood on top of Machu Picchu and got class credit for doing it. The 23-year-old Phillipsburg man traveled to Peru this summer as part of his studies as a pharmacy student at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. The study abroad program was organized through the Global Awareness Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the rainforest, according to its Web site. Toth and 11 other pharmacy students from across the country returned June 25 from their three-week trip. Shelli Holt-Macey, director of Wilkes University's Experiential Programs for the pharmacy school, said the students were selected by the institute's founder, Dr. Barbara Brodman. The students flew June 1 into Lima, Peru. "That was basically the last city I saw," Toth said. "The rest was more or less all jungle." Toth said they visited the GAI's Center for Natural Medicine in Iquitos to learn about natural medicine and drug discovery. While the group was in Iquitos, it was visited by a shaman who talked about the plants used by the different tribes. Toth said after her speech, the shaman stayed at the center because of a national workers strike in Peru and demonstrations in Iquitos. "I guess she was scared to go back," Toth said. He said the strike was unexpected and surreal. "That was weird. It happened like two days after we got there," Toth said. The group left the center a few days later and traveled to Cusco, Peru. It arrived there in time to experience the winter solstice at Machu Picchu. "It's so huge you just wonder how they could build it," Toth said. "They didn't use mortar and the stones fit so perfectly together you can't fit a credit card between them." But his parents, Brenda and Dale, had other concerns about the Incan city. "I knew he was going there but I didn't realize how steep it was. So when I saw those pictures it made me a little nervous," Brenda Toth said. Ryan Toth said the group traveled down the Amazon in canoes for about three days, which was not always easy. "One time we were rowing as hard as we could with the current and we weren't moving because of the wind coming against us," he said. Along the river they met three different native tribes: The Bora, Huitoto and Yagua. Ryan Toth said he became friends with a river guide from the Bora tribe named Wellington. "He spoke a little English and I speak a little Spanish so we became friendly," he said. Wellington hand-carved a mask for him and it became one of many tribal souvenirs Toth took home. Holt-Macey said the program was a great success because "it's directly related to the study of pharmacy and understanding how other cultures work without a system like the U.S.," she said. Ryan Toth said the trip "was not the kind of thing you can do as a tourist. We got to see places and people that barely anyone ever sees." Gina Vasselli is a staff writer. She can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at gvasselli@express-times.com. Labels: amazonia machupicchu, learns about medicine in peru, pharmacy student cialis Generic Viagra buy cilais Cheap Viagra

Tags: toth, peru, pharmacy, student, ryan

Sponsors

Search