What is the movement of an organism away from a chemical repellent and effects of chemical agents on bacteria?
The movement of an organism away from a chemical repellent is called negative chemotaxis. It's a specific type of chemotaxis, which is the general term for an organism's movement in response to a chemical stimulus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotaxis.
Here's a breakdown of both:
- Negative chemotaxis: This is when an organism detects a repellent and moves away from the source of that chemical. This is a survival mechanism that helps organisms avoid harmful substances. For example, bacteria might use negative chemotaxis to escape from cleaning products or antibiotics.
- Effects of chemical agents on bacteria: Chemical agents can have a variety of effects on bacteria, depending on the specific agent and the type of bacteria. Here are some common effects:Antibiotics: These are chemicals that can kill bacteria or stop them from growing. They work in various ways, such as by interfering with cell wall synthesis or protein production. Disinfectants: These are chemicals that kill bacteria on surfaces. They can also be effective against other microbes like viruses and fungi. Chemo attractants: Conversely to repellents, some chemicals can attract bacteria. This is called positive chemotaxis and can be used to lure bacteria into traps or for medical purposes.
The movement of cells toward a higher concentration of a stimulating substance is defined as positive chemotaxis (attractant), while the movement away as negative chemotaxis (repellent). Chemotaxis is the movement of microbes toward beneficial substances or away from inhibitory substances. Any chemical agents exert an inhibitory effect on bacteria. Among the best known are the antiseptics and disinfectants used in medicine, industry, and the home. Metals may also be employed as disinfecting agents because they combine with microbial proteins. Chemotaxis is the directed motion of an organism toward environmental conditions it deems attractive and/or away from surroundings it finds repellent. Movement of flagellated bacteria such as Escherichia coli can be characterized as a sequence of smooth-swimming runs punctuated by intermittent tumbles. Chemotaxis is a mechanism by which bacteria efficiently and rapidly respond to changes in the chemical composition of their environment, approaching chemically favorable environments and avoiding unfavorable ones. If the movement of the organism occurs in the direction of a higher concentration of the chemical (in the direction of an attractant), it is referred to as positive chemotaxis. However, if the movement occurs in the opposite direction, it is negative chemotaxis. Chemotaxis is the movement of organisms in response to a nutrient source or chemical gradient. Cells with chemotatic capabilities can sense xenobiotic chemicals adsorbed to soil particles and swim toward them, thereby overcoming the mass-transfer limitations in the bioremediation process. Chemical agents can affect cells in a variety of ways: *Protein coagulation. Most proteins in a cell are enzymatic and are finely dispersed throughout the cell. Disinfecting chemicals that cause those proteins to precipitate & coagulate make the cell non-functional, killing the bacteria.