An antimicrobial agent’s adverse effect on cells is known as its mode of action. Such antimicrobials exhibit a range of cellular targets, the selective being the most effective against the widest range of microbes and the selective agents exhibiting specificity in terms of cellular targets and microbial types they are effective against. Potential cellular targets of various physical and chemical forms of antimicrobials include the , whose synthesis can be blocked by these agents or whose structure can be altered as well. Another potential target is the , whose surface tension can be reduced by various microbicidal agents resulting in a loss of selective permeability in the cell. Physical and chemical agents can also interfere with synthesis through disruption of ribosome activity, protein function through the denaturation of a protein’s native state, and finally disrupting the synthesis or structure of

To be acceptable, an antimicrobial agent must inhibit or destroy the pathogen without damaging the host (i.e., the infected person). To accomplish this, the agent must target a metabolic process or structure possessed by the pathogen but not possessed by the host. The five most common mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents are as follows, except: (1 Point)• Inhibition of cell wall synthesis• Damage to cell membranes• Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis (either DNA or RNA synthesis)• Inhibition of protein synthesis• Inhibition of toxins

Characteristics of an Ideal Antimicrobial Agent, except(1 Point)Kill or inhibit the growth of pathogensCause no damage and allergic reaction to the hostBe stable when stored in solid or liquid formRemain in specific tissues in the body long enough to be effectiveKill the pathogens after they mutate and become resistant to it. Unfortunately, most antimicrobial agents have some side effects, produce allergic reactions, or permit development of resistant mutant pathogens.

Antimicrobial chemicals occur in liquid, gaseous, or even solid forms. They range from disinfectants and antiseptics to sterilants and , which are chemicals that can be used to inhibit the deterioration of food products. The use of chemical agents as germicides is very important in health-related fields today, due to their ability to have rapid action in concentrations and their ability to remain functional when solubilized in water or . In addition, many of these agents have microbicidal action without exhibiting toxicity as well as the ability to sustain a persistent action on inanimate surfaces. Other agents are resistant to the inactivating action of , while others exhibit noncorrosive, sanitizing, or properties. Many are affordable and readily available to users.

Which of the following is not one of the three main ways microbes evade antimicrobial drugs?ANSWERLimit production of peptidoglycanPump drugs outAlter the drug’s targetInactivate drugs

Which of the following are differences between bacteria cells and human cells that allow antibiotics to target and kill bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed? Group of answer choicesCell wallRibosomesDNA gyraseRNA polymeraseAll of the above are antibiotic targets