Question

What is antibiotic resistance? Thoroughly explain. What is pesticide resistance? Thoroughly explain. What are the causes of antibiotic and pesticide reistances? Thoroughly discuss. What can humans do to prevent development and expansion of antibiotic and pesticide resistances? Thoroughly justify.  

Answer 1

Antibiotic resistance:

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. When bacteria become resistant, antibiotics cannot fight them, and the bacteria can multiply in presence of antibiotic.

Some bacteria are naturally resistant to certain types of antibiotics. However, bacteria may also become resistant in two ways: 1) by a genetic mutation or 2) by acquiring resistance from another bacterium.

Pesticide resistance:

Pesticide resistance is the natural ability of a biotype of an organism to survive exposure to a pesticide that would normally kill an individual of that species. This occurs with insects, fungi, weed, and other pests.

Causes of antibiotic and pesticide resistance:

Some microorganisms may 'born' resistance which is naturally resistance, some achieve resistance by mtation or some have resistance thrust upon them by plasmids.

Mutation refers to change in DNA structure of the gene. Plasmid which carry gene resistant (r-genes) are called R-plasmid, and these can be readily transfer from one R-plasmid to another plasmid or to chromosome. Most of the drug resistance encountered in clinical practice is plasmid mediated.

Pesticide resistance probably stems from multiple factors:

Many pest species produce large broods that increase the probability of mutations and ensure the rapid expansion of resistant populations. Pest species had been exposed to natural toxins long before agriculture began. For example, many plants produce phytotoxins to protect them from herbivores. As a result, co-evolution of herbivores and their host plants required development of the physiological capability to detoxify or tolerate poisons.

Action can be taken to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance and pesticide resistance are:

Resistance can be managed by reducing use of an antibiotic or pesticide. This allows non-resistant organisms to out-compete resistant strains. They can later be killed by returning to use of the antibiotic or pesticide.

Do not use antibiotics to treat viral infections, such as influenza, the common cold, a runny nose or a sore throat. Use antibiotics only when a doctor prescribes them. Avoid mild doses of antibiotics over long time periods. When treating a bacterial infection with antibiotics, take all your pills to complete the dose. Combination of drugs to treat a bacterial infection can reduce the bacterial resistance. Reduce or eliminate the "preventive" use of antibiotics on livestock and crops.

When pesticides are the sole or predominant method of pest control, resistance is commonly managed through pesticide rotation. This involves switching among pesticide classes with different modes of action to delay or mitigate pest resistance. Two or more pesticides with different modes of action can be used in combination improve results and delay or mitigate existing pest resistance.