How Antibiotics Work: Mechanisms of Action
Part of Antibiotics and Drug Resistance — GCSE Biology
This deep dive covers How Antibiotics Work: Mechanisms of Action within Antibiotics and Drug Resistance for GCSE Biology. Antibiotic function, bacterial resistance evolution, responsible use, global health impact It is section 3 of 19 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 19
Practice
20 questions
Recall
24 flashcards
How Antibiotics Work: Mechanisms of Action
1. Cell Wall Disruption
Many antibiotics (like penicillin) target the bacterial cell wall by:
- Preventing the formation of peptidoglycan, a key component of bacterial cell walls
- Weakening the cell wall structure
- Causing bacteria to burst due to osmotic pressure
2. Protein Synthesis Inhibition
Some antibiotics (like streptomycin) target bacterial ribosomes:
- Bind to bacterial ribosomes (different from human ribosomes)
- Prevent the production of essential proteins
- Stop bacterial growth and reproduction
3. DNA Interference
Certain antibiotics disrupt bacterial DNA replication and repair, preventing cell division.
4. Membrane Disruption
Some antibiotics damage the bacterial cell membrane, causing cell contents to leak out.