Drug Resistance Flashcards
What are antimicrobials primarily used for?
Antimicrobials are used for treating diseases (therapy), preventing diseases (prophylaxis), and promoting growth in animals.
How do antimicrobial drugs act against microorganisms?
Antimicrobial drugs act by interfering with ribosome function, DNA replication enzymes, biosynthetic enzymes, and the cell wall or cytoplasmic membrane.
Why does antimicrobial resistance arise?
Resistance arises due to selective pressure from antimicrobial use, particularly at suboptimal concentrations that favor the survival of resistant bacteria.
Who is primarily responsible for antimicrobial resistance?
While antimicrobial use in animals contributes to resistance, much resistance in human pathogens originates from human medicine.
What is the consequence of antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance reduces the effectiveness of drugs across pathogens, limiting treatment options and raising concerns for food safety and environmental impact.
What are the types of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms?
Resistance mechanisms include changes in drug targets, enzymatic modification or destruction of drugs, efflux pumps removing drugs, and overproduction of drug targets.
How does multiple resistance develop?
Multiple resistance develops when bacteria accumulate resistance genes, often in mobile genetic elements like plasmids, enhancing resistance to multiple drugs.
What are critical control points for antimicrobial resistance?
Critical control points include the origins and spread of resistance genes, development of multiple resistance, reservoirs of resistant bacteria, factors leading to infection, and selection pressures.
How can antimicrobial resistance be controlled?
Control strategies involve judicious antimicrobial use, biosecurity measures to limit spread, and reducing selection pressures across various environments and sectors.
What principles guide responsible use of antimicrobials?
Responsible use includes using antimicrobials only when necessary, choosing the most targeted drug, using correct doses, and minimizing duration to avoid exacerbating resistance.
What are general characteristics of nematodes?
Nematodes are bilaterally symmetrical, elongated, and tapered at both ends, with a pseudocoel serving as a hydrostatic skeleton.
What is the structure of the digestive system in nematodes?
Nematodes typically have a complete digestive system with a mouth at the anterior end and an anus (or cloaca in males) at the posterior end.
How do cutting plates and leaf crowns relate to nematode feeding?
Cutting plates and leaf crowns in the buccal capsule aid in destroying host tissues and manipulating food intake, respectively.
Describe the nervous system of nematodes
Nematodes have a relatively simple nervous system with two main concentrations of nerve elements connected by longitudinal nerve trunks.
What neurotransmitters are involved in nematodes’ nervous system?
Acetylcholine (Ach) is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, while gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is inhibitory, serving as targets for anthelmintics.
