Biochem/physiol Actions
A β-lactam antibiotic with an amino group side chain attached to the penicillin structure. Penicillin derivative that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis (peptidoglycan cross-linking) by inactivating transpeptidases on the inner surface of the bacterial cell membrane. Bactericidal only to growing Escherichia coli . Mode of resistance: Cleavage of β-lactam ring of ampicillin by β-lactamase. Antimicrobial spectrum: Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
Application
Ampicillin Trihydrate is commonly used to select for ampicillin resistance in mutated and transformed cells. It is used in intracellular targeting of antibiotics on biodegradable polymeric carriers 1. Nanoparticle-bound ampicillin has been shown to be more effective than free ampicillin against Listeria monocytogenes in mouse peritoneal macrophages2. Ampicillin has been shown to cause Clostridium difficile-Associated ileocecitis in the hamster model3.