Bacteria to remember

Question 1

clostridium botilinum

Answer 1

• clostridium botilinum
• obligate anaerobic
• gram +
• spore forming
• toxin causes flaccid paralysis
• rare
• intoxication rather than a true infection
• Abs can alleviate

Question 2

tetanus

Answer 2

• clostridium tetani
• spore forming obligate anaerobe
• gram+
• bacillus
• spores enter a wound, germinate, and produce toxin
• similar to the botulism neurotoxin
• poisons neurotransmitters released by cleavage of proteins involved in vesicle fusion
• tetanus toxin causes spastci (not flaccid) paralysis

Question 3

Cholera

Answer 3

• large volume of watery diarrhea
• vibrio cholerae is a gram -, comma shaped, facultative anaerobe
• noninvasive: all important symptoms are due to action of a single toxin
• acquired by ingestion of contaminated water or food
• small intestine is the site of damage induced by toxin
• generates alkaline pH, which inhibits competing bacteria
• cholera toxin inducesprofuse watery rice water diarrhea
• mild to severe cases
• can result in extreme dehyrdration and hypotension
• can be rapidly fatal