Antibiotics
Antibiotics are powerful medications that are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Types of Antibiotics
There are several classes of antibiotics, including:
- Penicillins: These antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and ampicillin, work by interfering with the formation of bacterial cell walls.
- Cephalosporins: Drugs like cephalexin and cefaclor also target bacterial cell wall synthesis.
- Macrolides: Erythromycin and azithromycin are examples of macrolide antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.
- Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin belong to this class, which interferes with bacterial DNA synthesis.
- Tetracyclines: These antibiotics, including doxycycline and tetracycline, inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria.
- Sulfonamides: Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are examples of antibiotics that block the production of folic acid in bacteria.
- Others: There are also other classes of antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, carbapenems, and vancomycin.
How Antibiotics Work
Antibiotics work in different ways to fight bacterial infections. They may:
- Kill bacteria directly by disrupting their cell walls or interfering with essential processes like protein or DNA synthesis.
- Prevent the bacteria from multiplying, giving the body's immune system a chance to fight off the infection.
Usage and Resistance
Antibiotics should be used only when prescribed by a healthcare professional. Overuse or misuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance, making the drugs less effective in the long run.
Study Guide
Key Points to Remember
- Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
- There are different classes of antibiotics, each with its own mechanism of action.
- Overuse or misuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance.
Review Questions
.◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Seventh Grade. Ecosystems, food chains and food webs
Study Guide
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs 
Activity Lesson
Ecosystems, Food Chains & Food Webs Worksheet/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Worksheet/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Worksheet/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Vocabulary/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Vocabulary/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Vocabulary/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Vocabulary/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs Vocabulary/Answer key
Ecosystems, food chains and food webs
Activity LessonWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
LIFE SCIENCE
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Examine the cycling of matter between abiotic and biotic parts of ecosystems to explain the flow of energy and the conservation of matter.
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence regarding how resource availability impacts individual organisms as well as populations of organisms within an ecosystem.
Construct an explanation to predict patterns of interactions in different ecosystems in terms of the relationships between and among organisms (e.g., competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism).
Engage in argument to defend the effectiveness of a design solution that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g., using scientific, economic, and social considerations regarding purifying water, recycling nutrients, preventing soil erosion).