Human Bio Unit 1 - Antibiotics Flashcards
How does Penicillin work?
Targets cell wall of bacteria which are constantly being remade
Competitive inhibitor for the enzyme that makes the bacteria’s cell wall
Bacteria more likely to get attacked
Doesn’t effect human cells because they don’t have a cell wall
Antibiotic
A substance produced by an organism that kills bacteria
How does Erythromycin streptomycin work?
Attacks ribosomes and stops them synthesising proteins
Ways of attacking bacteria with antibiotics
Attack cell membrane and stop it forming
Attack transcripture enzyme to prevent DNA synthesis
Attack ribosomes and stop them synthesising proteins
Antibiotic resistance
Where bacteria mutate and develop resistance against a antibiotic
Why do bacteria mutate?
Random genetic change
Give an example of how a bacteria might resist a antibiotic
Produce a enzyme that breaks the antibiotic down
What can cause antibiotic resistance?
When people stop taking prescriptions early
Strongest bacteria survive and are likely to adapt and gain resistance
MRSA
Antibiotic resistant bacteria
Occurs naturally on our skin
When it breaks through our kin it causes boils and abscesses
How do you treat MRSA?
High doses of antibiotics
People are isolated in hospital so it doesn’t spread
What aren’t affected by antibiotics and why?
Viruses
Because they inhabit living cels and don’t have a cell wall of their own
Doctors only prescribe antibiotics for severe cases of Salmonella. Suggest why this is
Antibiotics are not specific
This means beneficial bacteria are killed as well
Avoids bacteria becoming resistant
People likely to get better naturally anyway
