What's New?

About

Services

Educational
Materials

Upcoming
Events

Awards

Links

Archive

Membership

A Newsletter Exploring Science
& Biomedical Research Issues
For School Educators
Volume 1, Issue 11, Winter 2006

page one       page two

Antibiotics...

Continued from page 1...

and for selecting experimental compounds for additional studies. In vitro tests are an important means for characterizing the antibacterial activity of an antibiotic. However, it is vital to determine whether an experimental drug has the ability to treat bacterial infections in a whole animal before being administered to patients. Animal studies can help determine whether an experimental drug has the necessary antibacterial activity and pharmaceutical properties required for treating human disease. Mice are currently used to test the efficacy of experimental drugs in treating systemic and soft tissue infections. Rats have been used in models of intra-abdominal abscess and experimental osteomyelitis, which is an infection of the bone and muscle.

In these models, rats or mice are inoculated with the bacterial pathogen of interest, and then treated with the experimental drug. Animal survival and clearance of the bacteria are evaluated. Blood samples can be collected and measured for drug levels to evaluate drug exposure. The animals can be administered different drugs in combination to explore the potential for multiple drug therapy. In addition, different routes of drug administration (example: oral or intravenous) can be evaluated in these animal studies. Because of animal research, scientists have been able to discover new antibacterial drugs for treating human disease.

.......................................

To learn more about the role of animal research in the discovery of linezolid, see the following:

• Ford CW et al. In vivo activities of U-100592 and U-100766, novel oxazolidinone antimicrobial agents, against experimental bacterial infections. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1996; 40(6):1508-1513.
• Schulin T et al. Activities of the oxazolidinones linezolid and eperezolid in experimental intra-abdominal abscess due to Enterococcus faecalis or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faeciumi. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1999; 43(12):2873-2876.
• Patel R et al. Linezolid therapy of Staphylococcus aureus experimental osteomyelitis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2000; 44(12):3438-3440.

page one       page two

You may download a PDF format of the actual newsletter.

BioFocus
Biofocus is published by the Michigan Society for Medical Research. Please send your questions, comments, and suggestions to:

MISMR
P.O. Box 3237
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-3237
Voice: (734) 763-8029
Fax: (734) 930-1568
Email: MISMR@umich.edu