antibiotics + medicines Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. They are used to treat bacterial infections and can target bacterial cells without damaging human body cells.
What was the first antibiotic to be isolated?
Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be isolated, by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
Why did the use of antibiotics become widespread in the mid-20th century?
The use of antibiotics became widespread after their successful use to treat soldiers during the Second World War.
What is the biggest risk of using antibiotics?
The biggest risk is antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria evolve to become resistant to the effects of antibiotics.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when genetic mutations in bacteria allow them to survive in the presence of antibiotics, making it harder to treat infections.
How does antibiotic resistance spread?
Antibiotic resistance spreads through natural selection, where bacteria with resistance traits survive and reproduce, passing on the resistance to their offspring.
What is a ‘superbug’?
A ‘superbug’ is a bacteria that is resistant to most known antibiotics, making it difficult to treat infections caused by it.
How can antibiotic resistance be reduced?
Antibiotic resistance can be reduced by doctors limiting antibiotic use, avoiding prescribing them for minor infections, and ensuring patients complete their full course of antibiotics.
What are MRSA and Clostridium difficile?
MRSA (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) causes serious infections and is resistant to many antibiotics. Clostridium difficile infects the digestive system and thrives when antibiotics kill normal gut bacteria.
Why are MRSA and Clostridium difficile infections more common in hospitals?
MRSA and Clostridium difficile infections are more common in hospitals due to the high use of antibiotics and patients having weakened immune systems.
How can we overcome antibiotic resistance?
New antibiotics can be developed and existing ones modified, though this is a challenging process.
What is an allele?
An allele is a version of a gene. In the case of antibiotic resistance, the allele for resistance can be passed on to offspring.
Why is it important to take the full course of antibiotics?
Taking the full course ensures the infection is fully cleared, reducing the likelihood of antibiotic-resistant bacteria developing.
How are many medicinal drugs manufactured?
Many medicinal drugs are manufactured using natural compounds found in plants, animals, or microorganisms. For example, penicillin comes from a fungus, and some cancer drugs are made using soil bacteria.
Why is it important to protect possible sources of medicines?
It is important to protect possible sources of medicines by maintaining biodiversity, as some species may contain compounds that could help treat currently incurable diseases or provide new antibiotics.
How can organisms already studied still be useful for medicine?
Even organisms already studied can be useful as new techniques may be developed to identify, purify, and test their compounds for medicinal use.
What are personalised medicines?
Personalised medicines are medicines tailored to an individual’s DNA. This allows doctors to predict how a person will respond to different drugs and prescribe the most effective ones.
Why are personalised medicines important?
Personalised medicines are important because they can increase the effectiveness of treatments by considering an individual’s genetic makeup and how it influences their response to drugs.
What is the goal of studying genetics in relation to drug response?
The goal is to develop more effective drugs by studying how someone’s genetic makeup affects their responsiveness to different drugs.
What is synthetic biology?
Synthetic biology involves using technology to design and create artificial proteins, cells, and microorganisms. It has applications in medicine, such as engineering bacteria to target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact.
How is synthetic biology used in medicine?
In medicine, synthetic biology can be used to engineer bacteria that destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy body cells unharmed.
