Antibiotics
Antibiotics are types of medicine used to treat bacterial infections. Thousands of bacterial cells in the body make contact everyday with human cells, with a ratio of 10:1, in terms of bacterial cells to human cells. Although some people may perceive bacteria as bad, a healthy ecosystem of bacteria (normal flora), is essential to keep us healthy while getting rid of pathogenic bacteria, which can lead to infection. Some pathogenic bacteria cause illnesses no matter what, and some cause illness when moving locations. The body's immune system responds by fighting and destroying invasions. In more specific terms, antibiotics are chemicals that enter and stick to important parts of the bacterial cell, and interfere with the survival and multiplication of current bacterial cells. These important parts include: protein/sugars in the bacterial wall, and important enzymes that make new bacterial DNA or proteins. Antibiotics can do one of two things to a bacterial cell: the bacteria either becomes BACTERIOSTATIC (stops growing) or BACTERICIDAL (dies). This only occurs if there is actually enough antibiotic. But, antibiotics cannot affect viruses, fungi, and parasites. Antibiotics were actually discovered in 1928 by a scientist named Alexander Fleming. He actually found (PENICILLIN), when he noticed the bacteria in his experiments weren't growing near some fungus that made its way into the experiment. In his speech of acceptance for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945, he warned of antibiotic misuse, which could lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Today, bacteria is resistant to most or all of current antibiotics. Penicillin actually works in killing various types of bacteria, and is not toxic to humans. It works by deactivating a bacterial enzyme (TRANSPEPTIDASE) that builds and repairs the bacterial wall. In addition, it activates (AUTOLYSIN) that cuts open parts of bacterial wall, and usually activates when bacteria multiplies. Another common type of antibiotic is (AZITHROMYCIN). It treats a wide variety of infections from pneumonia to STDs, and works by blocking a cell's ability to create proteins by attaching to ribosomes in the cell. Antibiotic development is actually quite difficult. Narrow spectrum antibiotics target a specific type of bacteria, while broad spectrum antibiotic targets a wide range. However, when a bacteria resists, it resists the entire class of drugs.
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a bacteria's ability to survive while being exposed to antibiotics. There are three outcomes when antibiotics are exposed to bacteria: they either die, stagnate, or multiply. The more the antibiotics, the higher chance of a bacteria stagnating and dying. However, the less antibiotics, the (BIOFILM), which is the substance of the bacteria, will multiple. This allows antibiotic to diffuse through the biofilm, but won't reach the bacterial cells. New classes of antibiotics are always required, because bacteria have the ability to mutate effectively. Mutation helps survival, which multiplies bacteria by the hour, allowing populations and mutations to grow exponentially faster, making antibiotics less effective. 4 circumstances may occur: 1. Enzymes in bacteria eat and deactive antibiotics. 2. Antibiotics are ejected from the bacteria. 3. Bacterial wall prevents antibiotic entry. 4. Bacteria gains new ways of processing energy. In addition, bacteria have the ability to genetically exchange information. If bacteria holds the information for resistance, that can be passed on to other bacteria. Some resistant bacteria include: (CARBAPENEM-RESISTANT ENTEROBACTERIACEAE) (CRE) CRE can cause rare infections, and some CRE are incurable, and resistant to ALL antibiotics. Patients with CRE have a 50% mortality rate. (CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE) (C. DIFFICILE) These bacteria invade after antibiotic have ruined normal bacterial ecosystems of the gut, which causes painful, bloody diarrhea, and fevers. This bacteria is fatal for the elderly, and is naturally resistant to antibiotics. In addition, they create tough spores. (NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE) This bacteria is the cause of gonorrhea (2nd most common infections). Having reproductive complications, 30% of infections are resistant to antibiotics. Limiting antibiotic resistance is important, and to do so, it is important to take narrow spectrum antibiotics. In addition, trash antibiotics responsibly by giving it back to pharmacists, or putting it in a sealed plastic bag and disposing of it.
What is the Flu?
The first considerations in checking for flu are to to see if it is abrupt, and it it lasts for 3 to 7 whole days. In addition, people often confuse the flu for the cold. The cold has respiratory symptoms which include: a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and coughs. The flu on the other hand, has both respiratory and constitutional which include: fevers, chills, body aches, and fatigues. When testing for flu, there can actually be "copycat" viruses present such as the (RHINOVIRUS) in the nose, or (RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS) in the lungs. These viruses fools into thinking it is influenza. Note: When people have the flu, it doesn't mean they have the influenza virus.
Catching and Spreading the Flu
The symptoms of the flu usually lasts for 3 to 7 days. However, a carrier of the flu virus could spread it even one day before the start of symptoms. In addition, because of the flu’s RNA build (ENVELOPE LIPID BILAYER), the virus is more sensitive to the environment. This makes the flu easy to spread from person to person. However, carriers of the flu should be more responsible for the people they interact with, especially the high risk people. The high risk group includes: the immunocompromised, elderly, children, and the pregnant. If these groups have the flu, they can develop further complications of the flu, ranging from respiratory diseases such as pneumonia or bronchitis, to even worse, death.
Flu Virus Attacks
The influenza virus contains two structures that allow its entry into the human cell: (HEMAGGLUTININ AND NEURAMINIDASE). The human cell, in addition, has processes that extend from it called (SIALIC ACIDS). The virus uses its hemagglutinin to hold the sialic acid, in order for the viral RNA to invade the nucleus of the human cell. The goal for the viral RNA is to make a factory to function in a way that is not normal of that of a human cell. In addition, the viral RNA makes copies itself, utilizing the neuraminidase to cut the sialic acid, in order to exit the cell. In addition, respiratory symptoms are caused by the various inflammations in the body that stems as a result of this invasion. Constitutional symptoms are caused by the strong immune response, which actually creates symptoms, that allows your body to be more susceptible to these attacks.
Credit: Khan Academy. All entries are written by Jadon-Sean Sobejana
