Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies Kingston, Jamaica.
Front Microbiol. 2013 Aug 19;4:241. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00241. eCollection 2013.
Biological functions of antibiotics are not limited to killing. The most likely function of antibiotics in natural microbial ecosystems is signaling. Does this signaling function of antibiotics also extend to the eukaryotic - in particular mammalian - cells? In this review, the host modulating properties of three classes of antibiotics (macrolides, tetracyclines, and β-lactams) will be briefly discussed. Antibiotics can be effective in treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases and pathological conditions other than those of infectious etiology and, in this capacity, may find widespread applications beyond the intended antimicrobial use. This use, however, should not compromise the primary function antibiotics are used for. The biological background for this inter-kingdom signaling is also discussed.
抗生素的生物学功能不仅限于杀菌。抗生素在自然微生物生态系统中最有可能的功能是信号传递。抗生素的这种信号传递功能是否也延伸到真核生物——特别是哺乳动物——细胞？在这篇综述中，将简要讨论三类抗生素（大环内酯类、四环素类和β-内酰胺类）的宿主调节特性。抗生素在治疗除感染病因以外的广泛疾病和病理状况方面非常有效，并且在这种能力方面，可能会在预期的抗菌用途之外得到广泛应用。然而，这种用途不应损害抗生素的主要功能。还讨论了这种跨王国信号传递的生物学背景。
