Sketchy Micro: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Flashcards
M. tuberculosis is _________-fast.
acid
This is represented by the two-branched tassels hanging off the cowboy’s poncho –mycolic acid is also two-branched.
What kind of stain is acid-fast?
Carbol-fucshin (like the fuchsia gun)
What kind of media is able to culture TB?
Lowenstein-Jensen
This media has things that inhibit the growth of other respiratory flora, because M. tuberculosis grows slowly and will not compete with other respiratory flora.
(This is symbolized by the Lowenstein GENeral store.)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis grows only in ____________.
aerobic conditions (represented by the bellows advertised on Lowenstein General Store)
In which cell compartment does M. tuberculosis live?
In macrophages (like the macrophage cage stagecoach… whoa)
What virulence factor is needed to make TB pathogenic?
Cord factor –which causes formation of granulomas that serve to insulate bacteria
(Think of the cowboy’s yellow cord; the cord factor is often described as serpiginous, which is like his curved rope.)
How do sulfatides work?
They prevent fusion of the phagosome with the lysosome, which allows M. tuberculosis to survive intracellularly.
(This is shown by the cowboy’s spurs –SpUrLFATIDE –which is kicking up clouds that look like non-fusing phagosomes.)
Primary TB usually presents with infection of the ____________.
middle or lower lobes (like the cactus with the middle lobe spots)
Other than the lung parenchyma, what is a common thoracic effect of TB?
Hilar lymphadenopathy (shown by the red cactus fruit in between the cacti)
The Ghon complex is ______________.
hilar lymphadenopathy with middle lobe calcified circles
Think of the GuN COMPLEX store just behind the cactus and cowboy.
Contrary to popular belief, primary TB usually presents with only ______________.
a fever
What histologic feature of the lung is seen in latent TB?
Fibrosis (like the fibrous burlap sack that the sleeping boy is using)
What cytokine is needed to keep TB in granulomas?
TNFalpha
Think of the TNt barrels keeping the prisoner locked up.
Reactivated TB typically presents in the ___________ lobes.
upper
What are three cardinal symptoms of reactivated TB?
Fever
Night sweats
Hemoptysis
(Think of the prisoner in the cage coughing up blood and sweating)
