MICR 4423 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
what is a riboswitch made of?
RNA that folds into 2* structure to turn on/off transcription
Among the 8 processes, which is targeted by benzamide?
Cell division (FTSZ)
Why is developing an LPS biosynthesis-targeting antibiotic attractive with respect to
clinically important pathogens?
The LPS is important in all G- bacteria, meaning this drug could be more broad spectrum
What would be an advantage of developing drugs that block bacterial secretion of
extracellular factors?
this helps reduce bacterial virulence by blocking toxins and virulence factors
Why might inhibiting bacterial siderophores be a promising therapeutic strategy?
This would block Fe acquisition, starving bacterial from essential iron
For phage therapy, should a phage be lytic or temperate?
Lytic
What is typically a rich source of phages against pathogens?
Hospital sewage
Phages can sometimes clear infections with drug-resistant bacteria, making them a
promisingtherapy against MDR infections. What is a drawback of phage therapy
Extremely narrow spectrum, even strain specific
sensitive to storage conditions
In what country is the Eliava Institute, the world's leading phage therapy center?
Georgia (the country)
, What phage proteins are in development as alternative therapies, and how do they work?
Phage lysins
-using isolated lysins to quickly kill bacteria by chopping up the peptidoglycan
-especially good for G+ because nothing protecting the peptidoglycan
Name the 5 strategies we discussed for future antibiotic development.
-modify existing ABX scaffolds
-"smart screens"
-look for synergies
-mine unstudied microbial products
-explore new synthetic compounds
Describe a strategy to make and test the antibiotic activity of a compound produced by
amicrobial species that does not grow under lab conditions.
Grow bacteria in situ, or where it normally is, then examine derivatives
Why is modification of existing antibiotic scaffolds an attractive avenue for future
antibioticdevelopment?
They have a lower development cost and are already proven in some way
How is typical antibiotic therapy different from antiviral or anticancer therapy
Antibiotics are usually a monotherapy
Why is the development of combination therapy a promising strategy for future
antibioticdevelopment? Give an example of how a combination therapy might work
Synergy means that a ineffective drug may be more effective in combination than the sum of its
individual parts
example: ABX + inhibitor of virulence —> inhibitor opens the door so that ABX can work
What are the two targets of Irresistin-16, a recently discovered antibiotic candidate?
DHFR and membrane (which it disrupts)
What is the mechanism of action of the newly discovered antibiotic candidate corbomycin?
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
what is a riboswitch made of?
RNA that folds into 2* structure to turn on/off transcription
Among the 8 processes, which is targeted by benzamide?
Cell division (FTSZ)
Why is developing an LPS biosynthesis-targeting antibiotic attractive with respect to
clinically important pathogens?
The LPS is important in all G- bacteria, meaning this drug could be more broad spectrum
What would be an advantage of developing drugs that block bacterial secretion of
extracellular factors?
this helps reduce bacterial virulence by blocking toxins and virulence factors
Why might inhibiting bacterial siderophores be a promising therapeutic strategy?
This would block Fe acquisition, starving bacterial from essential iron
For phage therapy, should a phage be lytic or temperate?
Lytic
What is typically a rich source of phages against pathogens?
Hospital sewage
Phages can sometimes clear infections with drug-resistant bacteria, making them a
promisingtherapy against MDR infections. What is a drawback of phage therapy
Extremely narrow spectrum, even strain specific
sensitive to storage conditions
In what country is the Eliava Institute, the world's leading phage therapy center?
Georgia (the country)
, What phage proteins are in development as alternative therapies, and how do they work?
Phage lysins
-using isolated lysins to quickly kill bacteria by chopping up the peptidoglycan
-especially good for G+ because nothing protecting the peptidoglycan
Name the 5 strategies we discussed for future antibiotic development.
-modify existing ABX scaffolds
-"smart screens"
-look for synergies
-mine unstudied microbial products
-explore new synthetic compounds
Describe a strategy to make and test the antibiotic activity of a compound produced by
amicrobial species that does not grow under lab conditions.
Grow bacteria in situ, or where it normally is, then examine derivatives
Why is modification of existing antibiotic scaffolds an attractive avenue for future
antibioticdevelopment?
They have a lower development cost and are already proven in some way
How is typical antibiotic therapy different from antiviral or anticancer therapy
Antibiotics are usually a monotherapy
Why is the development of combination therapy a promising strategy for future
antibioticdevelopment? Give an example of how a combination therapy might work
Synergy means that a ineffective drug may be more effective in combination than the sum of its
individual parts
example: ABX + inhibitor of virulence —> inhibitor opens the door so that ABX can work
What are the two targets of Irresistin-16, a recently discovered antibiotic candidate?
DHFR and membrane (which it disrupts)
What is the mechanism of action of the newly discovered antibiotic candidate corbomycin?
