CHLORAMPHENICOL

Chloramphenicol is a protein synthesis inhibitor but the antibiotic unlike other drugs that interfere with bacterial protein biosynthesis (e.g. tetracycline and aminoglycosides) binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of the target bacterial ribosome the same manner that macrolides (e.g. erythromycin) exhibit their antibacterial activity. Chloramphenicol and erythromycin exhibit similar modes of antibacterial action or activity […]

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Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, ,

RISKS, PROBLEMS AND ETHICAL ISSUES OF GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy is used to deliver functional genes or therapeutic DNA into target cells and tissues of patients suffering from genetic disorders so that the defective genes in their body can be corrected, repaired or replaced with the normal genes. Though they may provide the only clue for treating some genetic diseases; gene therapy is

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Gene Therapy Notes,

APPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY IN TREATING MOLECULAR DISEASES

Molecular diseases (genetic disorders) are non-infectious inheritable diseases which are usually caused by mutations that alter the normal function of a particular gene. They are different from infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis which are mainly caused by pathogenic microorganisms in that genetic disorders can be passed on from affected parents to their offspring’s

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Gene Therapy Notes, , ,

MECHANISMS OF TRANSFER OF RESISTANCE GENES IN BACTERIA

  Below are some of the major ways through which bacteria pass on their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to other susceptible non–resistant bacteria in their environment: TRANSDUCTION Transduction is simply defined as the transfer of genetic material (i.e. exogenous or foreign DNA molecule) between bacteria by bacteriophages (bacterial viruses). It is the transfer of DNA

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Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, , , , , ,

GENETIC BASIS OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Genetic resistance of microbes to antibiotics is due to a chromosomal mutation in the bacterial DNA or acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes on plasmids or transposons from other bacteria. Bacteria are extremely ingenious in becoming resistant to antibiotics directed towards them because they are able to regulate their drug resistance genes over time. This is

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Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology,

STEPS INVOLVED IN TRANSFORMING BACTERIAL CELLS

There are different types of steps involved in the transformation of a bacterial cell in gene cloning techniques. Bacterial cells are transformed when they are infused with exogenous DNA from another organism, and this makes them competent enough to express the gene product (or protein) of the gene they are carrying. Usually, the exogenous DNA

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Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology, ,

LEISHMANIASIS

Leishmaniasis is the parasitic disease caused by the protozoal organism, Leishmania. The disease affects the skin, spleen and the liver, and it is usually characterized by extensive lesions on the skin (in the mouth, throat and nose region) that sometimes leads to deformity of the affected body part. Leishmaniasis can be old world or new

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Public Health & Parasitic Diseases (Parasitology), , , , , , ,

METALLO-β-LACTAMASE (MBL) – detection methods

Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are beta-lactamase enzymes produced by pathogenic bacteria, and which hydrolyzes the carbapenems (e.g. imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem) and render the antibiotics ineffective for treatment. They are encoded by genes that have been procured by pathogenic bacteria either by mutation or by horizontal gene transfer from other resistant microbes. MBLs efficiently hydrolyze all beta-lactam

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Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) & Antibiogram, Microbe Lab, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, , ,