The Elusive Magic Bullet
The Search for the Perfect Drug
Book
220 pages
978-0-19-850092-6 (ISBN)
Description
This text reveals the history of the drugs that are so commonplace today in the treatment of disease. While we can now treat so many of these illnesses, the side-effects caused by many of these treatments can be severe, and even more worrying - the bacteria are now becoming more resistant to the drugs (the so-called "superbugs"). Scientists are also faced with a massive challenge in developing drugs that can effectively treat HIV, ebola, and many forms of cancer, but without the terrible side-effects of such treatments as chemotherapy or AZT - this is the quest for the "magic bullet". The book starts with a history of drug development, introducing us to some of the fascinating characters whose work so influenced the search for these drugs. Leading up to the present day, and the advances being made within molecular biology in the late 1990s, the book provides an introduction for non-scientists to one of the most exciting fields of activity within modern medicine. This book is intended for popular science readership, and medical specialists.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
30 colour illustrations, 30 halftones, further reading
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 150 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850092-6 (9780198500926)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Content
The Elusive magic bullet: Introduction; Antiseptics; From dyes to sulphonamides: The first antibacterials; Penicillins: Early ideas of antibiosis; Penicillin: Fleming's serendipitous discovery; Chain and Florey and the penicillin production line; Semi-synthetic penicillins and the growing problem of resistance; The mould that grew on sewage: Evolution of the cephalosporins; The mode of action of penicillins and cephalosporins; The white plague and its treatment; More "treasures" from streptomyces; The rise of the "superbugs"; Antiviral treatments; Antibodies: nature's magic bullets; Smallpox; Rabies; Coughs and colds and influenza; Influenza: The disease; Influenza: The treatments; The common cold; Herpes: Colds, sores, and chicken pox; AIDS: History of the disease; Haemorrhagic fever viruses; Cancer and anti-cancer drugs; Cancer chemotherapy; Periwinkles, mayapples, and yew trees: Anti-cancer drugs from plants; Micro-organisms also produce anti-tumour agents; Anti-tumour drugs from the sea; Turning off hormonal influences; Biological warfare: Inventing real magic bullets; Prevention is better than cure; Magic bullets: Still elusive after all these years.