The Evolution of Bacteria and Disease By Kaitlin

The Evolution of Bacteria and Disease By: Kaitlin Taylor

Introduction Bacteria has been around forever n When penicillin was discovered, it was a medical miracle n Penicillin vanquished WW 2’s biggest killer-bacterial infected wounds n 4 yrs. later, suddenly microbes could resist penicillin. . n

Why was this happening? Well evolution of course!! n Bacteria has variations, we know evolution likes variation. . n Bacterial variants have evolved to resist antibiotics n More bacteria have evolved, and now there are things like “super bugs” n

How do antibiotics work? Penicillin kills bacteria by attaching to the cell wall n Part of the cell wall is destroyed, and the cell will die n Penicillin can also affect the ribosome's of a bacterial cell n

How does Antibiotic Resistance Work? n Let’s look at some biology… n Antibiotic Resistance happens in 3 ways:

Antibiotic Resistance Cont’d… n 1) In spontaneous DNA mutation, bacterial DNA may mutate sporadically

Antibiotic Resistance Cont’d… n 2) Transformation process where one bacterium takes the DNA of another

Antibiotic Resistance Cont’d… n Plasmid DNA flicking from one bacterium to another… This one is the scariest form.

Other reasons bacteria become resistant. . Societal factors too. . n Inappropriate drug use n Transmission of disease n Sometimes we don’t need antibiotics! n

How can we solve this problem? Limit the use of antibiotics n Fight evolution with. . Evolution! n Example: Cholera n Theoretical Example: AIDS n It’s hard to say for certain…. n

Conclusion This evolutionary science is still in its early stages n We need to be more careful with antibiotics!!!! n Using public health measures can help too n

Thank you. .