NCIt definition : Any beta-lactam antibiotic derived from Penicillium fungi with bactericidal activity.
Penicillin antibiotics bind to and inactivate penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located
on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall. Inactivation of PBPs interferes
with the cross-linkage of peptidoglycan chains necessary for bacterial cell wall strength
and rigidity. This interrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis and results in the weakening
of the bacterial cell wall, eventually causing cell lysis.;
Alternative definition : NCI-GLOSS: A drug that is used to treat infection. It belongs to the family of drugs
called antibiotics.;
Currated CISMeF NLP mapping