Question

Part IV – Exploring Bacterial Resistance Due to the presence of the mecA gene, the microbiologist, David, confirmed that Kristen was infected with MRSA. Brent was infected with S. aureus that did not contain the mecA gene, making it susceptible to a topical antibiotic. Luckily, several other antibiotics do exist for MRSA that were used to allow Kristen to fully recover. Kristen was thankful that she recovered, but being a bit curious she wants to know why there are these “super bugs” that defy treatment, and why she had to get infected with one. What is antibiotic resistance? Explore antibiotic resistance by visiting the following sites: • http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/ • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.html Questions 1. What artificial or selective pressures could influence prevalence of antibiotic resistant microbes? 2. How could MRSA or other “super bugs” become antibiotic resistant? 3. Read note #5 in your handout about horizontal gene transfer. Discuss how Staphylococcus aureus could have acquired the mecA gene. 4. Is MRSA the result of a fundamentally different process than evolution? Explain. 5. What can be done to prevent MRSA from becoming more dangerous?

          Part IV – Exploring Bacterial Resistance
Due to the presence of the mecA gene, the microbiologist, David, confirmed that Kristen was infected with MRSA. Brent was infected with S. aureus that did not contain the mecA gene, making it susceptible to a topical antibiotic. Luckily, several other antibiotics do exist for MRSA that were used to allow Kristen to fully recover.
Kristen was thankful that she recovered, but being a bit curious she wants to know why there are these “super bugs” that defy treatment, and why she had to get infected with one.
What is antibiotic resistance? Explore antibiotic resistance by visiting the following sites:
• http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.html
Questions
1. What artificial or selective pressures could influence prevalence of antibiotic resistant microbes?
2. How could MRSA or other “super bugs” become antibiotic resistant?
3. Read note #5 in your handout about horizontal gene transfer. Discuss how Staphylococcus aureus could have acquired the mecA gene.
4. Is MRSA the result of a fundamentally different process than evolution? Explain.
5. What can be done to prevent MRSA from becoming more dangerous?

Part IV – Exploring Bacterial Resistance
Due to the presence of the mecA gene, the microbiologist, David, confirmed that Kristen was infected with MRSA. Brent was infected with S. aureus that did not contain the mecA gene, making it susceptible to a topical antibiotic. Luckily, several other antibiotics do exist for MRSA that were used to allow Kristen to fully recover.
Kristen was thankful that she recovered, but being a bit curious she wants to know why there are these “super bugs” that defy treatment, and why she had to get infected with one.
What is antibiotic resistance? Explore antibiotic resistance by visiting the following sites:
• http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l10403.html
Questions
1. What artificial or selective pressures could influence prevalence of antibiotic resistant microbes?
2. How could MRSA or other “super bugs” become antibiotic resistant?
3. Read note #5 in your handout about horizontal gene transfer. Discuss how Staphylococcus aureus could have acquired the mecA gene.
4. Is MRSA the result of a fundamentally different process than evolution? Explain.
5. What can be done to prevent MRSA from becoming more dangerous?

Added by Javier H.

Question

Please give Ace some feedback