Mechanism of Action of and Resistance to Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Waksman's group discovered SM in 1944, and opened a new field of antibiotcs: i. e. AGs. A large group of antibiotics containing aminosugar and/or aminocyclitol is called the AGs. A majority of AGs are produced by actinomycetes. In the first period, AGs effective against tuberculosis were chiefly examined. Following the studies on NM and KM, AGs active against staphyllococci and gram-negative robs were investigated. The discovery of GM and synthesis of DKB and AMK led to the studies on the third generation AGs, which show a broad antimicrobial spectrum including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and drug-resistant bacteria. Since opportunistic infection caused by drug-resistant bacteria are increasing, the third generation AGs are extensively investigated at present.