56. GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA

Question 1

1. What kind of species can we find in Gram-positive Bacteria?

Answer 1

• pathogenic species
• these can cause diseases

Question 2

2. List the 9 Pathogenic species that are Gram-Positive.

Answer 2

1. Actinobacteria
2. Bacillus Anthracis
3. Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
4. Clostridium Botulinum
5. Clostridium Tetani
6. Staphylococcus Species
7. Streptococcus Species
8. Mycobacteria
9. Mycoplasmas

Question 3

3. What are Actinobacteria?

Answer 3

• they are also known as Actinomycetes
• they are soil decomposers
• they cause cutaneous infections

EXAMPLE:
- fungi

Question 4

4. What does Bacillus Anthracis cause?

Answer 4

• they cause Anthrax
• they produce spores

Question 5

5. What does Corynebacterium Diphtheriae cause?

Answer 5

• they cause Diphtheria

Question 6

6. What does Clostridium Botulinum cause?

Answer 6

• they cause Botulism

Question 7

7. What does Clostridium Tetani cause?

Answer 7

• they cause Tetanus

Question 8

8. What is an example of a Staphylococcus Species?

Answer 8

• Staphylococcus Aureus

Question 9

9. What is an example of a Streptococcus Species?

Answer 9

• Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Question 10

10. What are 2 examples of Mycobacteria?

Answer 10

1. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
2. Mycobacterium Leprae

Question 11

11. What are Mycoplasmas?

Answer 11

• they are the smallest known cells
• they have no cell wall

Question 12

12. What are Streptomyces?

Answer 12

• they are a type of Gram-Positive Bacteria
• they are the source of many antibiotics

Question 13

13. What are Actinomycetes?

Answer 13

• they are a type of Gram-Positive bacteria
• they can cause Actinomycoses in humans

Question 14

14. What are some symptoms of Actinomycoses?

Answer 14

• a neck mass
• jaw or face pain
• formation of pockets of pus
  (these are known as Abscesses)

Question 15

15. What are some common symptoms of Anthrax?

Answer 15

• Fever and chills
• Chest Discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion or dizziness
• Cough
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Headache
• Sweats
• Skin infections

Question 16

16. What causes Anthrax?

Answer 16

• Bacillus Anthracis
• this bacteria is Rod Shaped
• it is small
• it is Gram Positive

Question 17

17. What does Clostridium Botulinum contaminate?

Answer 17

• it contaminates improperly canned food

Question 18

18. What does Clostridium Botulinum produce?

Answer 18

• it produce a Neurotoxin
• this is called the Botilinum Toxin
• this can be found in botox
• it can also cause Botulism

Question 19

19. How does Botox work?

Answer 19

• it causes facial paralysis
• this prevents wrinkles

Question 20

20. How does Clostridium Botulinum cause Paralysis?

Answer 20

• the Botilinum Toxin inhibits the release of a specific
  neurotransmitter
• this is called Acetylcholine

THIS INHIBITION HAPPENS:
- at the neuromuscular junction Synaptic Cleft

Question 21

21. What is the worst possible effect of Clostridium Botulinum?

Answer 21

• it can cause death
• this is due to Respiratory Muscle failure
• it is not safe to ingest

Question 22

22. What does Clostridium Tetani cause?

Answer 22

• it causes Tetanus

IN GREEK:
- Tetanus means to “Stretch”

NB:
- Clostridium is the Genus
- Clostridum Tetani can survive in harsh conditions

Question 23

23. What are the symptoms of Tetanus?

Answer 23

• convulsive muscle spasms
• these are the convulsions of the skeletal muscle
• paralysis

Question 24

24. What happens if Tetanus is left untreated?

Answer 24

• it can be fatal
• due to the Toxon production

ANTI-BIOTICS:
- can treat the bacteria
- the toxin can remain

ANTI-TETANUS:
- is needed to neutralise the toxins released

Question 25

25. How is Tetanus transmitted?

Answer 25

• the bacteria enters through a break in the skin
• this can be a cut or a puncture wound
• the object that was used is contaminated

Question 26

26. What does Corynebacterium Diptheriae cause?

Answer 26

• it causes Diphtheria
• this is a serious upper respiratory tract infection

Question 27

27. What are the symptoms of Diphtheria?

Answer 27

1. Pseudomembrane formation
   - in the pharynx and trachea
2. The Diphtheria Toxin is Released:
   - this inhibits Protein Synthesis
   - this is a vital step of Translation
3. Cell and tissue damage
   - as well as organ damage

Question 28

28. What are Pseudomembranes?

Answer 28

• they are dead tissue
• they accumulate as a Pseudomembrane

Question 29

29. What are two examples of Mycoplasmas?

Answer 29

• Mycoplasma Hominis
• Ureaplasma Urealyticum

NB:
- these are quiet small
- they do not have a cell wall

Question 30

30. What do Mycoplasmas cause?

Answer 30

• Non-Gonococcal Urethritis

Question 31

31. What kind of species do both Mycobacteria and Mycoplasmas have?

Answer 31

THEY HAVE SPECIES THAT ARE:
- phonetically Gram Positive
- but they are structurally neither Gram + or Gram -
- they do not absorb the Crystal Violet dye

Question 32

32. Why are Mycoplasmas neither structurally Gram + nor Gram -?

Answer 32

• they do not have a cell wall
• they lack the necessary peptidoglycans to absorb the
  crystal violet dye
• they cannot be classified as Gram + or Gram - based
  on their cell wall

Question 33

33. Why are Mycobacteria neither structurally Gram + nor Gram -?

Answer 33

• they have a unique lipid-rich cell wall
• this wall is very waxy
• they do not have the LPS outer layer than Gram -
  Bacteria have

Question 34

34. What happens when we use Gram stain on Mycoplasmas and Mycobacteria?

Answer 34

• it will have no affect
• it will appear colourless
• we have special dye that we use for these

Question 35

35. What dye do we use for Mycoplasmas and Mycobacteria?

Answer 35

• Methylene Blue

Question 36

36. How do we classify Mycobacteria?

Answer 36

• they are Acid-Fast Bacteria
• they are weakly Gram +
• they lack an outer LPS layer