Which of the following mechanisms enables bacteria to resist antibiotics by actively pumping the drug out of the cell?
Understand the Problem
This question is asking about the mechanisms that bacteria use to resist antibiotics. Specifically, it's asking which mechanism involves actively pumping the antibiotic drug out of the bacterial cell. We need to identify the correct mechanism from the given options.
Answer
Bacterial efflux pump
The mechanism that enables bacteria to resist antibiotics by actively pumping the drug out of the cell is called a bacterial efflux pump.
Answer for screen readers
The mechanism that enables bacteria to resist antibiotics by actively pumping the drug out of the cell is called a bacterial efflux pump.
More Information
Efflux pumps are transport proteins involved in the extrusion of toxic compounds out of a cell. They are a key contributor to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Tips
It is important to remember that efflux pumps do not modify or destroy the antibiotic; they simply pump it out.
Sources
- An overview of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of bacteria - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance - PMC - PubMed Central - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Drug efflux - sciencedirect.com
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