Question

name: eia lenninger period: 5th due date: 9 - 19 - 2021 1.2.1 antibiotic therapy - conclusion questions complete: __ correct: on time: total score: __/4 1. why are penicillins often more effective against gram - positive bacteria than gram - negative bacteria? 2. why is it important to understand the structure of a bacterial cell when developing an antibiotic? 3. how do antibiotics work without harming the surrounding human cells?

Explanation:

1. Penicillins target the peptidoglycan layer in the cell - wall of bacteria. Gram - positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer, making them more susceptible to penicillins. Gram - negative bacteria have an outer membrane and a thinner peptidoglycan layer, which can act as a barrier to penicillins.
2. Understanding the structure of a bacterial cell helps in identifying unique targets for antibiotics. Antibiotics can then be designed to specifically interact with these targets, such as cell - wall components, ribosomes, or DNA replication machinery, without affecting human cells.
3. Antibiotics target structures or processes that are unique to bacteria. For example, many antibiotics target the bacterial cell - wall (which human cells lack), or bacterial ribosomes (which have a different structure from human ribosomes), thus sparing human cells from damage.

Answer:

1. Penicillins target the thick peptidoglycan layer in Gram - positive bacteria more effectively as Gram - negative bacteria have an outer membrane and thinner peptidoglycan layer acting as a barrier.
2. Helps identify unique bacterial targets for specific antibiotic design without harming human cells.
3. Target structures/processes unique to bacteria like cell - wall or bacterial ribosomes that human cells lack.