Answer to Question #12802 in Microbiology for Shelly

Question

The antibiotic amphotericin B causes leaks in cells by combining with sterols in the plasma membrane. Would you expect to use amphotericin B against a bacterial infection? A fungal infection? Offer a reason why amphotericin B has severe side effects in humans.

Answer 1

Bacterial cell membranes generally do not contain sterols, therefore the
amphotericin B treatment of bacterial infection would not be effective. Since
both the human and fungal cell membranes contain sterols amphotericin B
damages the human cells as well which contributes to its toxicity.