Antibiotic resistance Flashcards
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to survive and grow in the presence of antibiotics that would normally kill them or inhibit their growth
Why is antibiotic resistance a major public health concern?
It leads to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, making infections harder to treat and increasing mortality rates
What are multidrug-resistant bacteria?
Bacteria that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics
What happens when bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics?
They gain a selective advantage, leading to ineffective treatments and prolonged infections
Why has the development of new antibiotics slowed down in recent years?
The pharmaceutical industry faces high costs and limited returns on investment, resulting in fewer efforts to develop new antibiotics
What is one approach to suppress antibiotic resistance evolution?
The use of multidrug combinations, either sequentially or simultaneously
What are synergistic drug interactions, and how do they help in fighting resistance?
Synergistic interactions occur when two drugs work together to enhance their effectiveness, reducing the time window for resistance evolution
What is collateral sensitivity?
It is a phenomenon where resistance to one antibiotic increases sensitivity to another, which can be exploited in treatment strategies
What cellular functions are typically involved in resistance evolution?
Metabolic activity, membrane transport, transcription, and translation
How can reactive oxygen species (ROS) impact resistance evolution?
ROS production can enhance the antibiotic-mediated killing of bacteria, potentially suppressing resistance evolution
What is the role of the ArcA/B system in bacterial metabolism?
It regulates the shift between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in response to environmental conditions
Why is it important to understand the molecular mechanisms of resistance?
To develop effective drug combinations and interventions that can suppress resistance evolution
What is the significance of gene regulatory networks in antibiotic resistance?
They influence the bacterial response to antibiotics and play a role in the evolution of resistance mechanisms
What is one proposed strategy to combat antibiotic resistance evolution without killing bacteria directly?
Using compounds that activate respiration pathways, which enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics
What role does biofilm formation play in antibiotic resistance?
Biofilms protect bacteria from antibiotics, contributing to increased resistance and persistence of infections
