Antibiotic resistance.docx

Antibiotic resistance= ability of bacteria to survive treatment by certain antibiotics. Bacteria can be resistant to multiple antibiotics are called multi-resistant. Lots of germs and bacteria. A few are drug resistant. (Persistant bacteria) Antibiotics kills the bacteria. The drug-resistant bacteri...

Antibiotic resistance= ability of bacteria to survive treatment by certain antibiotics. Bacteria can be resistant to multiple antibiotics are called multi-resistant. Lots of germs and bacteria. A few are drug resistant. (Persistant bacteria) Antibiotics kills the bacteria. The drug-resistant bacteria are now allowed to grow. The drug-resistant bacteria reproduce and grow. How do bacteria become resistant? Make enzymes which alter or destroy the antibiotics. Alternation of target side Prevent antibiotic getting into the cell. Efflux the antibiotics out of the cell. Temporarily change their metabolism. How the β-lactamases provide resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics. β-lactamases are enzymes that are produced by the bacteria to hydrolyse the β-lactam ring (which is a part of several β-lactam antibiotics). This means that it no longer binds to transpeptidases (PBP) so no longer inhibits peptidoglycan synthesises. We then get extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Inhibits a wide range of β-lactam antibiotics. β-lactamases inhibitors If the β-lactamase enzymes can be blocked, it can no longer produce the enzymes to break down the β-lactam ring in the antibiotics. Combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is used. Clavulanic acid looks like a beta lactam, but it has chemical modification meaning when the β-lactamase hydrolyses the β-lactam ring, it causes a covalent bond to form with β-lactamase enzyme. Known as a suicide inhibitor. As a result, it kills the enzyme due to irreversible inhibition.