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Penicillin targets the bacterial cell wall synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme transpeptidase, which is crucial for forming cross-links in the peptidoglycan layer. Without these cross-links, the cell wall becomes weak and unable to withstand osmotic pressure, leading to cell lysis and death. Additionally, penicillin is more effective against actively dividing bacteria, as it disrupts the process of cell wall formation during growth. Thus, in its presence, bacteria cannot maintain their structural integrity and ultimately die.

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5d ago

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How does penicillin aid in the destruction of bacteria?

Penicillin works by inhibiting the formation of the bacterial cell wall, which is essential for the bacteria's survival and reproduction. This weakens the cell wall, causing the bacteria to burst and die.


Why does penicillin have the ability to kill bacteria?

Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with their cell wall formation, weakening the structure and causing the bacteria to burst and die.


How penicillin affect gram positive and gram negative cell?

Penicillin is an antibiotic that destroys Bacteria by destroying the cell wall of the microorganism. It does this by inactivating an enzyme necessary for the cross linking of bacterial cell walls. Cell wall construction than stops and the bacteria soon die.


How do protoplast differ from L form?

Protoplasts are formed from gram-positive cells in the presence of lysozyme, which destroys the cell wall. L forms are gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria that do not make a cell wall. Therefore, L forms never had or made a cell wall as opposed to protoplasts which used to have a cell wall, but no longer do because it was destroyed. Penicillin can be used to destroy the cell wall of a bacterial gram-positive cell and form a protoplast, but in the presence of Penicillin, if a new bacterial cell is forming and cannot create a cell wall, then it will become an L form.


Is penicillin an competitive inhibitor?

No, penicillin is not a competitive inhibitor. Penicillin is an antibiotic that works by interfering with the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, leading to cell death.


Does penicillin kill gram negative or gram positive or both?

Penicillin primarily targets and is more effective against gram-positive bacteria by disrupting their cell wall synthesis. It is less effective against gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of an outer membrane that restricts penicillin's access to the cell wall.


What cell structure does penicillin target?

Cell Wall


Why doesn't penicillin work on all bacteria?

Penicillin is effective against bacteria that have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan. Bacteria without this type of cell wall, such as Mycoplasma and some strains of Staphylococcus, are not affected by penicillin. This is because penicillin works by disrupting the formation of the cell wall, leading to the bacteria's death.


Would penicillin be very effective against Mycoplasma?

No- because penicillin inhibits cell wall synthesis and Mycoplasmas don't have a cell wall.


Why doesn't penicillin kill fungal disease?

Penicillin kills susceptible bacteria by interfering with the bacterial cell wall. Since fungi don't have a cell wall, penicillin can't eliminate fungal infection.


What would happen if a suspension of bacteria is placed in a distilled water with penicillin?

eventually the bacteria would die because the penicillin would interfere with the ability to synthesize a cell wall thus the bacteria wouldn't divide. and the existing bacterial cell wall would lengthen and become frail. However, the bacteria must be gram-positive because they have cell walls composed of peptidoglycan, which is ideal for penicillin to attack.


How does penicillin act as a bacterial killer?

Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall.