Antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious emerging health problems in the world today. More than 70 percent of disease-causing bacteria are resistant to at least one of the currently available antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one such bacterium and is responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. In people with pre-existing conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF), P. aeruginosa can cause persistent lung infections. CF is a genetic disease in which some membrane transport molecules do not function. In the lungs, this leads to hardened mucus that makes it difficult for gas exchange and mucus that can also harbor bacteria such as P. aeuruginosa . The protein molecules on the surface of the P. aeruginosa bacteria are __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The protein molecules on the surface of bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa are antigens. These are substances that the immune system recognizes as foreign, triggering an immune response.

Antibiotic Resistance Is One of the Most Serious Emerging Health