10. Infection and immunology Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 4 general functions of the gut microbiota?
A
- Immune
- Metabolic
- Physiological
- Trophic
2
Q
What is oral candidiasis?
A
- Yeast infection
- From Candida albicans
- Immunocompromised states e.g. HIV, chemotherapy
- Treated via oral anti-fungals
3
Q
What is Helicobacter pylori?
A
- Gram negative microaerophilic rod
- Gastritis or duodenal ulcers
- Asymptomatic for 80%
- Treatment with 1 week eradication therapy - proton pump inhibitor and amoxicillin
4
Q
What is Travellers’ diarrhoea?
A
• Acute gastroenteritis • Caused by: - E. coli - Shigella - Salmonella - Cholera - Rotavirus - Norovirus • Foeco-oral transmission • Infections for 2 weeks
5
Q
What is faecal transplantation and when is it used?
A
- Transplantation of commensal flora
* Used in clostridium difficile
6
Q
Describe the mucosal defence
A
- Anatomical - barrier
- Chemical - enzymes and low pH
- Commensal bacteria
- MALT
- GALT
7
Q
What does the epithelial barrier comprise (that plays a part in protection)
A
- Mucosal layer - goblet cells
- Epithelial monolayer - tight junctions, antimicrobial peptides, IgA transport
- Paneth cells - crypts, defensins and lysosomes
8
Q
Describe the GALT
A
1) Organised sites • Lymphoid tissue - Peyer's patch in small intestine - Mesenteria lymph nodules 2) Disorganised sites • Lymphocytes in: - lamina propria (IgA secreting B-cells) - intra-epithelial cells (interstitial space)
9
Q
How do the Peyer’s patches work?
A
- Small intestine
- Aggregated lymphoid follicles
- Collection of naïve B and T cells
- Covered by follicle associated epithelium (microvilli, no goblet cells)
- M cells (+ APC) - transcytosis of lumenal bacteria, antigens and proteins, express IgA receptors
- Naïve B cells express IgM
- Antigen presentation => IgA
10
Q
How does IgA work?
A
- Up to 90% of B cells secrete it
- Dimeric (SIgA) - IgA binds to BLm, receptor becomes secretory component, bound by J-chain, actively secreted
- Transported through epithelial cells
- Bind to luminal antigens
- Prevents invasion and adherence of pathogens to mucosal wall
- Doesn’t activate compliment
- Most abundant “antibody” (IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin)
11
Q
What is the function of the secretory component?
A
- Helps IgA move through enterocyte
* Protects dimer from enzymatic and acidic degradation
12
Q
How does L-selectin (on lymphocytes) mediate rolling in HEVs?
A
- Binds to mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1)
- Expressed on endothelial cells in lamina propria of small and large intestine
- Enables recruitment in chronic gut inflammation
13
Q
What are the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
A
- Recurrent abdominal pain
- Abnormal bowel motility
- Constipation/diarrhoea
14
Q
How is IBS treated?
A
- Diet modification
- Treatment of constipation - fibre etc.
- Treatment of spasms and pain - anti-diarrhoeals, anti-muscarinic
- Management of stress, anxiety and depression
15
Q
What are the symptoms of Coeliac disease?
A
- Abdominal distension (bloating)
- Diarrhoea
- Sometimes dermititis herpetiformis