4. Slow growing pathogens

Question 1

Why are slow growing pathogens more difficult to target with antibiotics?

Answer 1

Antibiotics are designed for fast growing bacteria and target growth processes

Question 2

What are two examples of ionophores?

Answer 2

Clofazimine and Daptomycin

Question 3

What is S. aureus SCV internalisation mediated by?

Answer 3

fibronectin bridging between FnBPs and receptor α5β1-integrin

Question 4

Which 3 drugs are used for leprosy MDT?

Answer 4

Clofazimine, dapsone and rifampicin

Question 5

What is the unique feature of the mycobacterium cell wall?

Answer 5

long chain lipids - mycolic acids

make it difficult for the immune system to recognise

Question 6

How is lepromatous leprosy (LL) characterised?

Answer 6

Th2 cell immune response, absence of granulomas

Question 7

How is tuberculoid (TT) characterised?

Answer 7

Th1 cell immune cytokine response (IFN and IL 2)

Containment of the infection in granulomas

Question 8

How does M. leprae bind to the Schwann cell membrane?

Answer 8

LBP21 and PGL-1 bind to LAMA2 and dystroglycan on the schwann cell membrane

Question 9

What is the TLR1 mutation that makes people less susceptible to M. leprae?

Answer 9

TLR1 I602S

Question 10

How does clofazimine work?

Answer 10

membrane disrupting

Question 11

What are 3 different membrane disruption examples?

Answer 11

toroidal pore formation
barrel-stave pore formation
carpet-like pore formation

Question 12

What does dapsone do?

Answer 12

Inhibits DHPS in folate synthesis

Question 13

What does rifampicin do?

Answer 13

RNA pol inhibitor - binds to the beta subunit at an allosteric site