6.4.1 Mechanisms of Antibiotic Action

• Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.infections
• Antibiotics target specific processes in bacteria, such as cell wall formation or protein synthesis.
• Which antibiotic interferes with bacterial cell wall formation?

  Penicillin
• Match the antibiotic mechanism with its target and example:

  Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ Peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls ||| Penicillin

  Protein Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ Bacterial ribosomes ||| Tetracycline

  Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ DNA or RNA synthesis ||| Quinolones

  Metabolic Pathway Inhibition ↔️ Key metabolic pathways, such as folic acid synthesis ||| Sulphonamides
• Antibiotics that target the cell wall interfere with the peptidoglycan layer formation.
• DNA gyrase is inhibited by quinolones.quinolones
• Which metabolic pathway is targeted by sulphonamides?

  Folic acid synthesis
• Arrange the main mechanisms of antibiotic action in a logical sequence:

  1️⃣ Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibition

  2️⃣ Protein Synthesis Inhibition

  3️⃣ Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibition

  4️⃣ Metabolic Pathway Inhibition
• Match the antibiotic target with its description:

  Cell Wall ↔️ Weakens cell integrity by interfering with peptidoglycan formation

  Ribosomes ↔️ Blocks protein synthesis

  DNA Gyrase ↔️ Inhibits DNA replication

  Folic Acid Synthesis Pathway ↔️ Interferes with folic acid production
• Understanding antibiotic mechanisms is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and preventing antibiotic resistance.
• What is one strategy to mitigate antibiotic resistance by understanding antibiotic mechanisms?

  Combination therapies
• Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve the ability to survive in the presence of antibiotics.antibiotics
• Match the antibiotic mechanism with its resistance mechanism:

  Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ Production of enzymes that degrade cell wall inhibitors

  Protein Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ Altered ribosome structure

  Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibition ↔️ Mutated DNA gyrase

  Metabolic Pathway Inhibition ↔️ Overproduction of essential metabolites