Chatgpt flashcards Chap 10

What is selective toxicity?

The ability of a drug to harm the microbe without harming the host.

What structure do beta-lactams target?

Peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall.

What is the mode of action of tetracycline?

Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosome.

What type of drug is AZT and what does it treat?

Antiviral drug; inhibits reverse transcriptase in HIV.

What is MIC?

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration – the lowest amount of drug that stops bacterial growth.

What does the Kirby-Bauer test measure?

Zone of inhibition to assess bacterial susceptibility.

What is a major disadvantage of broad-spectrum antibiotics?

Disruption of normal microbiota and risk of superinfection.

Which organism produces the most antibiotics?

Streptomyces

Why are viruses difficult to target with drugs?

They use the host’s machinery, making selective toxicity hard.

What is the mechanism of action of polymyxins?

Disrupt the plasma membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.