Knowledge about which of the following characteristics of a bacterium can help doctors prescribe the correct type of antibiotic to fight a bacterial infection?
A) ability to conjugate
B) mode of nutrition
C) shape of the cells
D) type of cell wall
A?
Antibiotics attack the peptidoglycan cells walls of bacteria, which is why you often hear the terms gram stain positive and negative bacteria. D seems to be the best answer choice among the answer choices.
thank you
Knowledge about the ability to conjugate (option A) is not typically used to prescribe antibiotics. Conjugation refers to the transfer of genetic material between bacteria and is not directly related to the antibiotic susceptibility of a bacterium.
On the other hand, the mode of nutrition (option B), shape of the cells (option C), and type of cell wall (option D) are characteristics that can provide valuable information to doctors when prescribing the correct type of antibiotic.
The mode of nutrition refers to how a bacterium obtains nutrients, such as through photosynthesis or by breaking down organic matter. This information can help doctors choose specific antibiotics that target certain metabolic processes in bacteria.
The shape of the cells, such as cocci (round), bacilli (rod-shaped), or spirilla (spiral-shaped), can suggest the type of bacteria involved. Different bacteria have varying susceptibility to different types of antibiotics, so identifying the shape of the cells can help narrow down the appropriate antibiotic treatment.
The type of cell wall is another important characteristic when considering antibiotics. Bacteria can have cell walls composed of peptidoglycan (Gram-positive bacteria) or a combination of peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides (Gram-negative bacteria). Antibiotics can target these cell wall components differently, so knowledge of the type of cell wall can aid in antibiotic selection.
Overall, while option A (ability to conjugate) does not directly affect antibiotic selection, options B (mode of nutrition), C (shape of the cells), and D (type of cell wall) are characteristics that can assist doctors in prescribing the correct type of antibiotic to effectively fight a bacterial infection.
The correct answer is D) type of cell wall. Knowing the type of cell wall of a bacterium can help doctors prescribe the correct type of antibiotic to fight a bacterial infection.
To understand why, let's break it down:
When a bacterium causes an infection, doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Antibiotics work by targeting specific components or processes within bacteria, ultimately killing them or inhibiting their growth.
Different types of antibiotics target different parts of bacterial cells. One significant target is the cell wall, which is the outer layer that provides structural support and protection to the bacterium. The cell wall prevents the bacterium from bursting under the osmotic pressure.
Bacteria can have different types of cell walls based on their structure and composition. The most common types are gram-positive and gram-negative cell walls. These classifications are based on the Gram staining technique, which has historically been used to differentiate bacteria.
Gram-positive bacteria have a thick, single-layered cell wall composed primarily of a substance called peptidoglycan. In contrast, gram-negative bacteria have a thinner cell wall composed of a thin peptidoglycan layer sandwiched between two membranes. This outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria makes them more resistant to certain antibiotics.
Knowing whether a bacterium has a gram-positive or gram-negative cell wall allows doctors to select an appropriate antibiotic. For example, antibiotics such as penicillin and vancomycin are generally effective against gram-positive bacteria because they target the specific structures found in gram-positive cell walls. On the other hand, antibiotics like tetracycline and ciprofloxacin are more effective against gram-negative bacteria due to their ability to bypass the more complex structure of the gram-negative cell wall.
In conclusion, understanding the type of cell wall a bacterium has, whether it is gram-positive or gram-negative, can provide valuable information for doctors to choose the right type of antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection.