- Denaturation - collapsing hydrogen bonds of bacteria. The whole thing collapses and kills the nucleic acid and proteins.
- Can do this by Moist Heat, Boiling and Autoclaving (heat under pressure)
Pasteurization - Heating up to 72 degrees cenigrade such as in milk so it won't loose its flavor...boiling is 100 degrees centrigrade.
Gas Sterilization - putting the organisms in a chamber with gas, kills everything including spores.
Oxidation - hydrogen peroxide, bleach, dry heat and UV rays.
Cell Wall Damage - weakens the cell wall. Lysozomes and antibiotics.
Cell Membrane Damage - antifungal drugs. Makes cell spit out all its insides.
Interference with Protein Sythesis - stop peptide bond formation, change shape of m-RNA so it can't be read, or interfere with attachment of t-RNA to m-RNA.
Interference with Nucleic Acid - antiviral meds. Harshest.