GE CLST M1A Lecture 26: Antibiotic Resistance on Agriculture and Human, Horizontal Gene Transfer, and Responding Actions

• School: UCLA
• Department: General Education Clusters
• Course: GE CLST M1A
• Professor: Jay, J.A.

Document Summary

Antibiotic resistance is now a global threat to public health. Background and motivation: the development of antimicrobials over the 20th century lead to incredible improvements on medical care. They have been a huge part of health care that we have right now. Antibiotics: pathogens are routinely exposed to antibiotics, susceptible pathogens die, resistant pathogens survive, resistant pathogens multiply. The genes of resistant bacteria can be passed on. Horizontal gene transfer: genes can be passed back and forth between bacteria in the environment. Conjugation: cells come into contact and pass dna. Transformation: free dna can be taken up and exist. Annual distribution in the us: human use 3. 3 million kg (20%), animals use 80%. A small amount of antibiotics can help animals grow faster and survive in cramped conditions. They are given at low doses, but exactly the scenario to cause selection for the genes with resistant pathogens to be passed on.