What is the mechanism of action for Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin functions primarily by blocking bacterial cell wall synthesis, which is a crucial mechanism for its antibacterial activity. This antibiotic is part of the penicillin class and works by interfering with the formation of peptidoglycan, an essential component of bacterial cell walls. As a result, when bacteria are exposed to Amoxicillin, their ability to maintain the integrity of their cell wall is compromised. This leads to cell lysis and death, particularly in actively dividing bacteria.

The mechanism is selective to bacteria because human cells do not possess cell walls; instead, they have cell membranes. This selectivity allows Amoxicillin to effectively target and kill bacteria while being generally safe for human cells. The efficacy of Amoxicillin against various bacterial infections, including respiratory and urinary tract infections, can largely be attributed to this mechanism of action.

In contrast, other options describe mechanisms that do not apply to Amoxicillin. For example, inhibiting protein synthesis relates to classes of antibiotics such as macrolides and tetracyclines. Increasing antibiotic absorption in the gut does not describe a mechanism of action of Amoxicillin itself but rather a consideration in its pharmacokinetics. Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis pertains to antibiotics like fluoroquinolones and