What is meant by selective toxicity? What is meant by selective toxicity? Chemotherapeutic agents should have only one mode of action. Chemotherapeutic agents should work on many different targets on a pathogen. Chemotherapeutic agents should work on certain types of pathogens. Chemotherapeutic agents should act against the pathogen and not the host.

Chemotherapeutic agents should act against the pathogen and not the host.

Explanation:

Selective toxicity means that a chemical will be harmful to one type of living matter but not to other life forms, although the two may closely coexist.

A chemotherapeutic agent is a chemical that can directly interfere with the growth of microorganisms at concentrations that are tolerated by the host.

Chemotherapeutic agents should act against the pathogen and not the host.

Explanation:

Selected toxicity - This is the toxicity of an agent, which has a negative effect on certain class of cells, while excluding others. In application to antimicrobial drugs, it refers to ability of a drug to selectively kill or inhibit the the targeted pathogens, while causing little or no harm to the cells of the host. it is also applicable in the use of insecticide and weedkillers where the hosts (human, animals or farm crops) are not really affected, but the targeted insects and weeds are destroyed.

It works by disrupting the specific chemical bonds and neurotransmitters in the targeted cells of the microorganisms.