Microbial Observation and Anatomy – Discussion

Bacterial cells are markedly different from eukaryotic cells in many aspects. Differences in these cells are the foundation of drug development as researchers look for ways to combat bacterial infections in humans. For this unit’s Discussion, imagine that you have been asked to design a drug that will target and destroy a broad spectrum of bacteria. You will need to identify two cellular parts of a prokaryotic cell (e.g., ribosomes, etc.) as targets for this drug.

What two cellular structures would you target? Why did you choose these targets?
Would your drug be harmful to human cells? Why or why not?
Would this drug also be effective against parasitic and fungal infections? Why or why not?
Now, respond to your classmates and comment on the potential effectiveness of the drug they have selected, and offer potential pitfalls of the drug