Hi Angelica!

I read in an article that bacteria’s use two genetic mechanisms to resist antibiotics:

1. Gene Mutation- This happens when the bacteria undergo gene mutation which allows the bacteria to develop a defense mechanism. This defense mechanism allows the bacteria to block or destroy the antibiotics used against them.

2. Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT)- This occurs when foreign DNA material is acquired. Since most antimicrobial producing organisms and bacteria shares the same environment, it allows the bacteria to evolve and be able to withstand some antibiotics.

Reference:

Munita, J. M., & Arias, C. A. (2016, April). Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Microbiology spectrum. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888801/

Resistance is the insensitivity of a bacterium to antibiotic effect. Mechanisms are mutations and exogenous gene acquisition.

Hello, the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics can be done by a modification in the genome of the bacteria, which allows them to carry out modifications which will make the antibiotic less effective or not at all effective. Also it can receive resistance genes from other bacteria by the phenomenon of horizontal gene transfer.

Hello,

1. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics: many people often go over-the-counter to buy antibiotics without prescription.

2. Incomplete dosing: often, asome patients fail to complete antibiotics dosing once they start to feel better.

3. Residual antibiotics in poultry: the antibiotics given to poultry often accumulate within the flesh of the poultry and subsequently consumed which indirectly causes antibiotic resistance.

This is just but a few reasons..

All the best

Bacteria can adapt to antibiotics in several ways. One of the most common mechanisms is through the mutation of their genes, which allows them to produce enzymes that inactivate the antibiotics, modify the target of the antibiotic or increase their capacity to expel the drug from their interior. Additionally, bacteria can also acquire new genes that provide them with resistance through horizontal transfer from other bacteria that already have those genes, such as plasmids.

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to survive and grow in the presence of an antibiotic that would normally kill or inhibit their growth. This can occur naturally, but the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated the rate at which bacteria develop resistance. Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health because it can lead to treatment failures and prolonged illnesses, making infections more difficult and expensive to treat.

To overcome antibiotic resistance, there are several strategies. One is to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics and improve prescribing practices to avoid the development of resistance in the first place. Another approach is to develop new antibiotics or improve existing ones, but this is a long and costly process. Additionally, it is important to promote good hygiene practices, such as hand washing, to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. Lastly, there is ongoing research into new approaches to treat infections, such as phage therapy, which uses viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria, or immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to fight infection.