Antibiotic Resistance:

How it happens and why all

the fuss?
Pg 23 in Engage Packet
Bacteria have been around for
___?___ billion years
Bacteria are
Everywhere!
Bacteria are Everywhere!
Skin: about a trillion bacteria
Alimentary canal (mouth, throat, stomach, intestines): tens of
trillions of bacteria!
Nose, eyes, toes . . .

Bacteria comprise about
1/20th of your total body
weight!
What is the structure of a
bacterium?
Cell
membrane
Cell wall or
envelope
Bacterial
chromosome
(DNA)
Plasmid DNA
- small
circles of
DNA that
contain a few
genes
.
10 micrometers
= 1/100th of a millimeter
Human cell
E.coli bacterium
Flu virus
nucleus
chromosomes
Bacterial Replication
Binary Fission -
Asexual
Bacteria can double in less than twenty
minutes under optimal conditions!
Bacteria can double in less than twenty
minutes under optimal conditions!
Bacteria can double in less than twenty
minutes under optimal conditions!
Bacteria can double in less than twenty
minutes under optimal conditions!
Bacteria can double in less than twenty
mintues under optimal conditions!
Good bacteria
Form defensive
barrier
Skin, intestines
Aid digestion
Produce vitamin K
Clear away debris

- E. Coli
- Lactobacillus
Pathogenic Bad bacteria
Streptococcus
pneumoniae -
pneumonia
Haemophilus
influenzae -
meningitis
Streptococcus
pyogenes -
strep throat
Staphylococcus
aureus -
wound infections
Helicobacter pylori -
Stomach ulcers
How antibiotics work
Antibiotics are chemicals that disrupt
bacterial processes

Inhibit cell wall
construction: cell
bursts
Inhibit protein
synthesis: cell dies
Inhibit DNA
replication: cells
cant divide
What is Antibiotic
Resistance?
Resistant bacteria no longer killed in
presence of specific antibiotic.
Antibiotic X
Antibiotic X
All killed
Antibiotic Y
All killed
How do bacteria become
resistant?
Resistance arises from changes in the
bacterial genome.
DNA -> RNA -> Protein

These new proteins can help protect the
bacteria from the antibiotic.
How do Bacteria Become
Resistant?
Spontaneous mutation
Many different random
mutations are present in a
population of bacteria.

Some lucky mutations may
provide an advantage,
especially if the environment
changes.
Acquire resistance genes from other bacteria

How Else?
Mechanisms of Resistance
Resistant Bacteria Can:
1. Modify or destroy
the antibiotic.


2. Flush out antibiotic.



3. Alter the target.
Essential
Bacterial
Protein
Essential
Bacterial
Protein
Superbugs
Bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics
Need for stronger, newer drugs
Uptake of
plasmid:
over 12,000
in Guatemala
died in 1968
of acute
diarrhea
In the absence of antibiotics, resistant
bacteria are less likely to survive.
Resistant strain cannot
compete with all other
bugs
With antibiotic, resistant bacteria rapidly take over.
So does this mean
antibiotics are evil?
Antibiotics are wonderful drugs when
administered and used properly!
Penicillin on market in 1943 -
saved numerous lives in WWII!

Ear infections in children
treatable.

Lower incidence of infection in
surgical patients.

But there are problems!
4 years after introduction of
penicillin, resistance began to
develop.

Needless exposure to antibiotics
selects for resistant strains.

Who can change?
Doctors and Patients


Livestock/Poultry Industry



Antibacterial Home Products
Patients and Doctors
Take for prescribed
period of time.
Dont go to doctor
with expectation of
receiving prescription.

Only prescribe when
necessary.
Narrow spectrum drugs.


Subtherapeutic Dosage
Problem
Full
Dose
1/2
Dose
Highly susceptible
bacteria
Less susceptible
bacteria
Stop Taking
Antibiotic
Resistant bacteria
Livestock/Poultry Industry
Antibiotics given
prophylactically to livestock,
poultry, and even plants to
promote growth.

Link between this use and
people infected with
resistant strains.
Good News
1997 - Vancomycin banned from chicken
feed in Europe.

July 2003 - McDonalds vendors will no
longer treat animals with prophylactic
antibiotics.

In Europe, animal health maintained
through improvements in living
conditions.
Antibacterials at Home
Triclosan resistance
emerging.

Triclosan contributes
to resistance of
other drugs.
From Dishwater to
Groundwater
Triclosan very abundant in residential
streams.
Summary
Bacteria become resistant through
mutations or by getting genes from other
bacteria.

We should only use antibiotics when we
really need to.

Overuse in agriculture and at home
encourages appearance of resistant bugs.
OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources
(__________________________)
V Bacteria may have variation due to
____________________
S When faced with the selection pressure of
________________, bacteria that have the beneficial
mutation survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _______________
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _____________ to certain drugs.

OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources (_food, water, habitat_)
V Bacteria may have variation due to
____________________
S When faced with the selection pressure of
________________, bacteria that have the beneficial
mutation survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _______________
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _____________ to certain drugs.

OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources (_food, water, habitat_)
V Bacteria may have variation due to _genetic
mutations_
S When faced with the selection pressure of
________________, bacteria that have the beneficial
mutation survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _______________
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _____________ to certain drugs.
OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources (_food, water, habitat_)
V Bacteria may have variation due to _genetic
mutations_
S When faced with the selection pressure of
_antibiotics_, bacteria that have the beneficial mutation
survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _______________
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _____________ to certain drugs.

OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources (_food, water, habitat_)
V Bacteria may have variation due to _genetic
mutations_
S When faced with the selection pressure of
_antibiotics_, bacteria that have the beneficial mutation
survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _reproduce__
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _____________ to certain drugs.

OCVSR(S)
O Potential for bacteria to overpopulate
C Competition for resources (_food, water, habitat_)
V Bacteria may have variation due to _genetic
mutations_
S When faced with the selection pressure of
_antibiotics_, bacteria that have the beneficial mutation
survive, all others die.
R The bacteria that survived can _reproduce__
(S) The bacteria may, over time, be identified as a
particular strain that is _resistant_ to certain drugs.