Answer :
Final answer:
Another way a sensitive bacterial strain can become penicillin-resistant is by producing beta-lactamase enzymes that deactivate the antibiotic.
Explanation:
Apart from changes in the transpeptidase enzyme that prevent penicillin binding, bacteria can acquire resistance to penicillin through the production of beta-lactamase enzymes. Beta-lactamases are enzymes that can cleave the beta-lactam ring present in penicillin and related antibiotics, rendering them inactive. This mechanism is often referred to as "enzymatic hydrolysis" and is one of the most common ways bacteria develop resistance to penicillin.
When bacteria produce beta-lactamase enzymes, these enzymes target and break down the structure of penicillin molecules, rendering the antibiotic ineffective in inhibiting cell wall synthesis. This enzymatic breakdown occurs before penicillin can exert its bactericidal effects, providing the bacterial strain with a defense against the antibiotic.
This is indeed a sneaky resistance mechanism, as it allows bacteria to counteract the antibiotic's mode of action. It's important to note that bacteria can acquire these resistance mechanisms through mutation or horizontal gene transfer, which can spread the resistance genes across different bacterial populations.
In summary, the emergence of beta-lactamase enzymes that degrade penicillin molecules is a significant mechanism by which previously sensitive bacterial strains develop resistance to this antibiotic. This mechanism highlights the constant evolutionary arms race between bacteria and antibiotics.
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