This article deals with the specific antibiotic called tetracycline. For the group of antibiotics known as the tetracyclines, see tetracycline antibiotics.

Tetracycline (INN) (pronounced /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪkliːn/) is a broad-spectrum polyketide antibiotic produced by the Streptomyces bacterium, indicated for use against many bacterial infections. It is commonly used to treat acne. It is sold under the brand names Sumycin, Terramycin, Tetracyn, and Panmycin, among others. Actisite is a thread-like fiber form, used in dental applications. It is also used to produce several semi-synthetic derivatives, which together are known as the Tetracycline antibiotic group.

Mode of action

It works by inhibiting action of the prokaryotic 30S ribosome, by binding aminoacyl-tRNA.

Toxicity may be result of inactivation of mitochondrial 30S ribosomes in host cells.

History

The tetracyclines are a large family of antibiotics that were discovered as natural products by Benjamin Minge Duggar and first described in 1948.^[1] Tetracycline was then discovered by Lloyd Conover in the research departments of Pfizer. The patent for tetracycline, U.S. Patent 2,624,354 , was first issued in 1950. However, Nubian mummies have been studied in the 1990s and were found to contain significant levels of tetracycline; there is evidence that the beer brewed at the time could have been the source.^[2] Tetracycline sparked the development of many chemically altered antibiotics and in doing so has proved to be one of the most important discoveries made in the field of antibiotics. It is used to treat many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and some protozoa.

Cautions, contraindications, side effects

Are as those of the tetracycline antibiotics group:

• Can stain developing teeth (even when taken by the mother during pregnancy)
• Inactivated by Ca²⁺ ion, not advised to be taken with milk or yogurt
• Inactivated by aluminium, iron and zinc, not to be taken at the same time as indigestion remedies
• Inactivated by common antacids and over the counter heart burn medicines.
• Skin photosensitivity, not advised to be exposed to the Sun or intense light
• Drug-induced lupus, and hepatitis
• Tinnitus
• When used for acne vulgaris, skin can be extremely dry and flaky if overused
• May interfere with methotrexate by displacing it from the various protein binding sites.

Indication

Tetracycline's primary use is for the treatment of acne vulgaris and rosacea.

It is also used to treat a very wide range of infections; see tetracycline antibiotics for details.

Other uses

Since tetracycline is absorbed into bone, it is used as a marker of bone growth for biopsies in humans, and as a biomarker in wildlife to detect consumption of medicine- or vaccine-containing baits.^[3] The presence of tetracycline in bone is detected by its fluorescence.^[4]

In genetic engineering tetracycline is used in transcriptional activation. Tetracycline is also one of the antibiotics used to treat ulcers caused by bacterial infections.

References

1. ^ Klajn, Rafal, Chemistry and chemical biology of tetracyclines, retrieved 20 June 2007.
2. ^ George Armelagos (May, 2000). Take Two Beers and Call Me in 1,600 Years - use of tetracycline by Nubians and Ancient Egyptians. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
3. ^ Olson CA, et al. Bait ingestion by free-ranging raccoons and nontarget species in an oral rabies vaccine field trial in Florida. J Wildl Dis. 2000 Oct;36(4):734-43.
4. ^ Mayton CA. Tetracycline labeling of bone