2.3 - Infection and Defects in Mechanisms of Defence Flashcards
6 Factors Influencing Infection
1) Communicability
- how easily a pathogen can spread from 1 person to another
ex. HIV has low communicability bc it requires specific transmission routes
2) Infectivity
- ability of pathogen to invade and multiply within a host
- involves attachment to cell surface, enzyme release, and spread through lymph
3) Virulence
- severity of disease a pathogen can cause
ex.rabies - causes severe and fatal disease
4) Pathogenicity
- ability to produce disease
- depends on combination of virulence, communicability, and infectivity
5) Portal of Entry
- route by which pathogen infects the host
- direct, inhalation, ingestion, bites
6) Toxigenicity
- ability to produce toxins
- more effective a pathogen is at producing toxins, the more severe disease it can cause
Bacterial Disease
How Bacteria produces toxins
1) Exotoxins
- enzymes that damage host cell directly (damage membrane or interfere w protein synthesis)
2) Endotoxins
- get released into the bloodstream activate the inflammatory response
What is Bacteremia/Septicemia?
Bacteremia: the presence of bacteria in blood
Septicemia: growth of bacteria in blood
- failure of the body’s defence mechanism
- when this happens, endotoxins get released and activate complement/clotting system - increases permeability; allows plasma and bacteria to leak into tissue
Viral Disease
- most common
- usually resolves on its own
- transmits through: infect blood, sexual contact, aerosol, and vectors (moving things)
How do viruses replicate?
- viruses NEED A HOST to replicate
1) Attach - binds to receptor
2) Penetrate - fuses with membrane
3) Uncoat - viral material is released from protective coat
4) Replicate - viral material replicates to make viral proteins
5) Assemble - viral proteins assemble into particles
6) Release - new virions are released
- some viruses remain latent until triggered by something
How Virus affects Host Cell
1) inhibits DNA, RNA, synthesis in hist cell (bc virus is producing its own virions)
2) Breaks lysosomes
- digestive enzymes get released and damage the cell
3) Can cause cancer
- viruses can cause uncontrollable growth = cancer
4) Make the virus more susceptible to infections
- virus impairs immune response
5) Viral cells can fuse and disrupt tissue structure/function
6) Viruses change surface proteins on cell
- not recognized by immune system; so gets attacked
What is Antigenic Variation
- minor gradual changes in antigens overtime
- virus cumulates mutations and leads to new strains
ex. different variants of COVID, influenza
Fungal Infection
- fungi are large microorganisms without peptidoglycans; makes them resistant to antibiotics
Dermatophytes: fungi that invade skin, hair, and nails
- fungi adapt to their host environment and suppress the immune defence
- they can adapt bc they can tolerate wide range of conditions: low O2
Parasitic Infection
- parasites live symbiotically within a host
Spread through
- human to human via vectors (mosquitos)
- contaminated food and water
- parasites cause damage by sitting in the space alone (not by causing immune response)
Purpose of Antimicrobials
- drugs used to kill/stop growth of microbes
- inhibit synthesis of cell wall
- damage membrane
- alter metabolism (ability to process RNA)
- inhibits protein synthesis
- modifies metabolism (bacteria can not produce energy)
How does bacteria develop resistance?
1) Mutations
- mutations can make them resistant
2) Inactivate antibiotic
- some bacteria produce enzymes that neutralize antibiotics
3) Modify target molecule
4) Antibiotic Efflux
- bacteria can pump the antibiotic out faster than it can enter
5) Lack of compliance to antibiotic regime
- if you do not complete prescribed course, 1 bacteria can be left alive and replicate
6) Overuse
- overusing antibiotics can also kill beneficial bacteria - resistant bacteria thrives bc healthy bacteria does not compete with it
How do Vaccines work?
- vaccines stimulate the immune system without causing the disease
- helps the body to make memory cells that trigger a mire immediate response upon exposure
- vaccines use weakened or dead pathogens
What is an Immune Deficiency
- failure of the immune systems defence mechanisms
Classified as:
Primary (congenital)
- occurs from genetic anomalies at birth
- inherited defects in the immune system
- rare and often undiganosed
Secondary
- obtained over time
- caused by another factor
What are combined deficiencies?
- result from underdevelopment of B and T lymphocytes
1) Severe Combined Immunodeficiency
- absent IgM and IgA
- underdeveloped thymus
- few lymphocytes
2) Bare lymphocyte syndrome
- B and T cells can not properly present
3) Wiskott - Aldrich
- low IgM increases susceptibility to infections
4) DiGeorge Syndrome
- diminished parathyroid development
Evaluation of Immune System Function
1) Complete Blood Count
- tells us about circulating blood cells and amount of lymphocytes
2) Quantitative determinant of Immunoglobulins
- measures level of antibodies
3) Assay
- checks the complement system
