Ampicillin is a penicillin derivative used for the treatment of a variety of infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as some anaerobes. Ampicillin is used for treatment of infection (Respiratory, GI, UTI and meningitis) due to E. coli, P. mirabilis, enterococci, Shigella, S. typhosa and other Salmonella, nonpenicillinase-producing N. gononhoeae, H. influenzae, staphylococci, streptococci including streptoc By binding to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located inside the bacterial cell wall, Ampicillin inhibits the third and last stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Penicillin binding proteins are responsible for glycosyltransferase and transpeptidase reactions that lead to cross-linking of D-alanine and D-aspartic acid in bacterial cell walls. Inhibition of this protein leads to upregulation of autolytic enzymes and inhibition of cell wall synthesis. Ampicillin is bactericidal and kills off the bacteria that it affects.

Ampicillin Pathway (New) References