How Penicillin Kills Bacteria
Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell
wall. In this sequence, Eschericia coli were incubated in penicillin for 30
minutes. The bacteria lengthen, but cannot divide. Eventually the weak cell
wall ruptures. Some bacteria avoid the effect of penicillin by
the production of penicillinase, an enzyme that destroys penicillin.
Antibiotic use selects for populations of these antibiotic-resistant
pathogens.
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