Question

penicillin - resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria produce enzymes called β - lactamases that bind to and break the β - lactam ring found in penicillin.this is an example of antibiotic resistance due to
mutation
binding
efflux
destruction/inactivation

Explanation:

The problem describes bacteria producing an enzyme (\(\beta -\)lactamase) that breaks the \(\beta -\)lactam ring in penicillin. This is a form of antibiotic resistance where the antibiotic (penicillin) is chemically altered (its structure is destroyed) by the enzyme.

• Mutation would involve a change in the bacterial DNA sequence that might lead to resistance (e.g., changing a target site of the antibiotic), but here it is about an enzyme destroying the antibiotic.
• Binding (in the context of antibiotic resistance) might refer to bacteria binding to an antibiotic in a non - functional way (not the case here as the enzyme is breaking the antibiotic).
• Efflux is about bacteria pumping out the antibiotic, which is not described in the problem.
• Destruction/inactivation is correct as the \(\beta -\)lactamase enzyme is breaking (destroying) the \(\beta -\)lactam ring, inactivating the penicillin.

Answer:

destruction/ inactivation