Explain how this can lead to the death of that bacterium.
- As we will see in Unit 2, the penicillin antibiotics binds to the bacterial enzyme transpeptidase.
a. Explain how this can lead to the death of that bacterium.
b. Could this antibiotic be used to treat protozoan infections such as giardiasis and toxoplasmosis?
The Gram-Negative Cell Wall
A large number of gram-negative Escherichia coli have entered the urinary tract of a patient.
- Explain how the body is able to recognize these bacteria and eventually send phagocytes and defense molecules to the infected site. (Hint: See The Gram-Negative Cell Wall, section C.)
- How might this mechanism lead to the symptoms of the infection? (Hint: See The Gram-Negative Cell Wall, section D.)
The Acid-Fast Cell Wall (Hint: See The Acid-Fast Cell Wall, section B.)
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a very slow growing bacterium with a generation time often measured in days to weeks. It is also resistant to the vast majority of antibiotics that are commonly effective against other bacteria and treatment is typically with a combination of drugs for up to 9 months.