Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations

Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations

Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is commonly administered via intermittent intravenous infusion to treat severe infections. An intermittent one-hour infusion of gentamicin, administered at eight-hour intervals, allows for precise control of plasma drug concentrations, minimizing toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic principles govern the dynamics of plasma concentrations and can be mathematically described using specific equations.The plasma drug concentration...

Estimation of k and VD of Aminoglycosides

Estimation of k and V_D of Aminoglycosides

Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics used to treat various bacterial infections. Clinicians must determine the elimination rate constant (k) and volume of distribution (VD) to optimize therapeutic efficacy and minimize toxicity. The k value represents the rate at which the drug is removed from the body, and the VD reflects the degree to which the drug distributes into body tissues. Accurately estimating these parameters allows healthcare professionals to tailor drug dosing to individual...

Diphtheria

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Polymyxin B Pharmacodynamics in the Hollow-Fiber Infection Model: What You See May Not Be What You Get.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2021

Same author

Emergence of Resistance to Ceftazidime-Avibactam in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolate Producing Derepressed <i>bla</i><sub>PDC</sub> in a Hollow-Fiber Infection Model.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2021

Same author

Dose Fractionation of Moxifloxacin for Treatment of Tuberculosis: Impact of Dosing Interval and Elimination Half-Life on Microbial Kill and Resistance Suppression.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2021

Same author

The Funnel: a Screening Technique for Identifying Optimal Two-Drug Combination Chemotherapy Regimens.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2020

Same author

Developing New Drugs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Therapy: What Information Do We Get from Preclinical Animal Models?

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2020

Same author

Building Optimal Three-Drug Combination Chemotherapy Regimens.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Published on: October 25, 2013

Daptomycin: a novel agent for Gram-positive infections.

F P Tally¹, M Zeckel, M M Wasilewski

¹Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 24 Emily Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. ftally@cubist.com

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs

|July 5, 2005

Summary

Daptomycin is a promising new antibiotic effective against resistant Gram-positive infections. Clinical trials show it is safe and effective for skin infections and bacteremia, with rare resistance development.

More Related Videos

Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria

Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria

Published on: October 25, 2024

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Published on: July 3, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Published on: October 25, 2013

Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria

Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria

Published on: October 25, 2024

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Published on: July 3, 2026

Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Pharmacology
Microbiology

Background:

Rising incidence of Gram-positive infections, including resistant strains like MRSA and VRE.
Limited therapeutic options for these challenging infections.
Need for novel antibiotics with broad-spectrum activity and favorable safety profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daptomycin, a novel lipopeptide antibiotic.
To assess daptomycin's activity against various Gram-positive pathogens, including resistant strains.
To determine daptomycin's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

Main Methods:

In vitro testing of bactericidal activity against clinically relevant Gram-positive bacteria.
Pharmacokinetic studies to assess drug behavior in the body.
Phase II clinical trials evaluating efficacy in skin/soft tissue infections and bacteremia.
Safety assessments comparing adverse events to conventional therapies.

Main Results:

Daptomycin demonstrated potent in vitro bactericidal activity against VRE, MRSA, GISA, CNS, and PRSP.
Rapid, concentration-dependent killing and a prolonged post-antibiotic effect were observed.
Phase II trials showed efficacy in skin/soft tissue infections and bacteremia with good safety profiles.
Adverse events were uncommon and comparable to conventional treatments; muscle toxicity was minimal and reversible.

Conclusions:

Daptomycin is a highly effective and safe antibiotic for Gram-positive infections, including those caused by resistant bacteria.
Its rapid bactericidal action, favorable pharmacokinetics, and safety profile make it a valuable therapeutic option.
Ongoing Phase II and III trials will further solidify its role in treating serious Gram-positive infections.