Useful and Harmful Microbes — Science STD 9 — Question
Maharashtra BoardEnglish MediumSTD 9ScienceUseful and Harmful Microbes3 Marks
Question
Define ‘Antibiotic’.
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Answer
Carbon compounds obtained from some bacteria and fungi for destroying or preventing the growth of harmful micro -organisms are called antibiotics.
Antibiotics, a discovery of the 20th century, have brought a revolution in the field of medicine.
Antibiotics mainly act against bacteria. Some antibiotics can destroy protozoa.
Some antibiotics are useful against a wide variety of bacteria they are called broad-spectrum antibiotics. Examples – Ampicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, etc.
When the pathogen cannot be identified even though the symptoms of the disease are visible, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used.
Whenever a pathogenic micro-organism is definitely known, then narrow-spectrum antibiotics are used. Examples: Penicillin, gentamycin, erythromycin, etc.
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