MRSA.

=__**Disease/Drug of interest** : __= methicillin-resistant //Staphylococcus// aureus (MRSA)/ Vancomycin (VCM)

**Motivation and Background** :
MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a major pathogen and is the cause for many infections that can occur in the body, most notably on the skin. MRSA is especially difficult to treat than most staph infections because it has developed a resistance to many of the antibiotics that are regularly used to treat them. Before the 1950’s, staph infections were treated with benzylpenicillin, however there was a concern with many strains that started to develop a resistance over time. These resistant strains created an enzyme, B-lactamase, that inactivated the B-lactam antibiotic that is in benzylpenicillin. So a main goal was now to synthesize an antibiotic that was resistant to this inactivating enzyme. This was done by developing methicillin, which sterically hindered the staph B-lactamases. When methicillin began to be used clinically, methicillin-resistant S. aureus quickly arose with the first reported case being in Britain in 1961. The resistant bacteria were able to change their genomes with mutations that coded for antibiotic resistance. With the different types of antibiotics that have been used throughout the years we now face the challenge of treating multi-resistant MRSA. Anyone can get MRSA from coming into contact with an infected wound or using any item that has come in contact with an infected wound. Studies show that 1 in 3 people carry staph in their nose, however, that does not always mean that it causes an infection. Similarly, 2 in 100 people carry MRSA. Risk of infection increases in places that are over-crowded and where people share a lot of the same equipment. Particularly, the population that is most susceptible includes athletes, students in school, military personnel in barracks, and healthcare workers and patients, specifically patients that just had invasive medical and therefore weaker immune systems.

Bruniera, F. R.; Ferreira, F. M.; Saviolli, L. R. M. The use of vancomycin with its therapeutic and adverse effects: a review.
 * References: **

MRSA and the Workplace https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/.

Mccormick, M. H.; Mcguire, J. M.; Eli, L. C. Patent US3067099 - Vancomycin and method for its preparation.

Stapleton, P. D.; Taylor, P. W. //Science Progress//2002, //85// (1), 57–72.

VANCOMYCIN | C66H75Cl2N9O24 – PubChem.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/
 * External links: **

=__**Target Information** : __= Many of the B-lactam antibioticswork to target penicillin-binding proteins (aka PBP’s), which are involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, an essential polymer for structuring bacterial cell walls. The target for vancomycin in particular is peptide subunits of peptidoglycan called D-alanyl-D-alanine. PBP’s catalyze transpeptidation reactions or cross-linking, which takes place on the external surface of the cytoplasmic membrane. Without cross-linking, the cell wall becomes too weak, which in turn causes some cytoplasmic contents to be released and so the cell dies.

160.173 g/mol
 * Size ** **: molecular weight of the protein**

PBP’s are found in the intermembrane of the cell envelopes of many bacteria and it is usually expressed.
 * Location ** **:**

PBP’s are necessary to build the cell wall and promote growth of the bacteria. Without it the cell would die and be unable to reproduce.
 * Function in a normal cell ** **:**


 * __ Drug Information : __**
 * Schematic figure of drug ** :

C66H75Cl2N9O24
 * Formula ** :

1449.265 g/mol
 * Molecular weight ** :

1404-0-6
 * CAS Number ** :

injection, oral Vancomycin is sometimes used as an alternative because of the adverse side effects that it has on some patients. The most common ones being hypotension and tachycardia, phlebitis, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and hypersensitive reactions. Other side effects include bladder pain, bloating, bloody or cloudy urine, convulsions, dry mouth, fever, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, mood changes, and muscle pain or cramps.
 * Delivery method ** :
 * Side effects ** :

Vancocin, Vancocin HCl, Lyphocin, Vancocin HCl Pulvulves
 * Other names ** :

Chembase.cn, MedChemexpress (MCE), AbovChem LLC, AN PharmaTech, ChemScene, eNovation Chemicals, Chemol, Synblock Inc, Aurora Fine Chemicals LLC, ACT Chemical
 * Maker or company ** :

Both Mack H. Mccormick and James M Mcguire, who both invented it vancomycin, claim the substance itself and a way of producing it.
 * Is it patented ** ?

There are currently 70 trials being done with the treatment of vancomycin with MRSA.
 * Clinical Trials Info ** :


 * Origin ** :

trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, minocycline, or doxycycline
 * Alternatives to this drug ** :


 * Miscellaneous ** :

Vancomycin is an effective way of treating S. //epidermidis//, S. //pneumonia//, //streptococcus viridans//, Clostridium (intestinal infection), and Gram-negative bacilli.
 * Other uses ** : can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions?