Final answer:
Sulfapenems are beta-lactam antibiotics with a ß-lactam ring structure crucial for their antibacterial action, blocking peptide chain crosslinking in bacterial cell walls.
Explanation:
Sulfapenems belong to a class of antibiotics known as beta-lactams, characterized by a ß-lactam ring structure in their molecules. This ring is essential for their antibacterial activity as it blocks the crosslinking of peptide chains during bacterial cell wall synthesis. Sulfapenems, like penicillins and cephalosporins, undergo chemical modifications to their R groups to enhance potency and spectrum of activity.
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