Antibiotics

Question 1

What is selective toxicity?

Answer 1

Where antibiotics re toxic against bacteria cells but not human cells

Question 2

How can we destroy bacteria without harming ourselves and what antibiotics do this?

Answer 2

• Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis (quinalones)
• Ribosome destruction (tetracycline)
• Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (penicillin)
• Disruption of cell membrane function (polymixines)
• Block pathways + inhibit metabolism (sulfonamides)

Question 3

Why are antibiotics becoming less effective?

Answer 3

They’re becoming resistant due to people using them when the immune system could have fought the disease

Question 4

What is the process of developing antibiotic resistance?

Answer 4

1. Mutation guves organism a difference, provides advantage when we apply a selective pressure from the antibiotic to bacteria, bacteria will survive
2. They will survive + characteristic is passed on by reproduction
3. We see a change in allele frequency within the population

E.g. MRSA, C.difficile

Question 5

How can we reduce antibiotic resistance?

Answer 5

Minimise use of antibiotics, complete the course of antibiotics, good hygiene

Question 6

How can we solve the problem?

Answer 6

• Computer modelling is being used to develop new antibiotics
• Looking for possible sources such as soil microbes, crocodile blood, fish slime, honey, and oceans

Question 7

What is being offered as a prize?

Answer 7

A £10 million prize offered to anyone who can think of cost effective, accurate, + easy to use test that allows doctors to identify correct antibiotics for right infections