Glossary
Friday, 3 May 2024, 11:59 PM
Site: Open Learning
Course: Understanding antibiotic resistance (UAR_1)
Glossary: Glossary
P
pathogenicCapable of causing disease. |
penicillinaseThe first identified β-lactamase. It hydrolyses and destroys penicillin but not other β-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporins. |
penicillin-binding protein 2a (abbreviated to PBP2a)A penicillin-binding protein with low affinity for penicillin and other β-lactams. |
penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)Bacterial enzymes that are essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. They are the target of β-lactam antibiotics. |
peptidoglycanA major component of bacterial cell walls. A large polymer, consisting of sugars and amino acids, that forms a mesh-like layer outside the bacterial cell membrane. |
phage therapyTreatment for bacterial infections that exploits the ability of bacteriophages to lyse and kill the bacteria they infect. |
pharmacological propertiesThe characteristics of a drug that relate to how it is used and its effects in the body. |
pH indicatorA chemical compound that changes colour in solution, depending on the pH (acidity) of the solution they are mixed with. |
phytochemicalChemicals produced by plants. Many phytochemicals have antibacterial properties. |
pilusA thin hollow tube extension of the bacterial cell wall that connects bacteria and is involved in horizontal gene transfer via conjugation. |