Bacterial Pathogenesis I - L7 Flashcards
What is bacterial pathogenesis?
the mechanism by which a bacterial pathogen produces disease
What is a bacterial pathogen?
a bacteria that is capable of causing disease in a host
Virulent pathogen
exceedingly pathogenic organism
avirulent organism
not pathogenic
attenuated pathogen
less pathogenic organism
primary pathogen
disease causing pathogen that can cause disease even in a healthy host
opportunistic pathogen
can cause disease only in a compromised host; do not cause disease under normal conditions but can cause disease under special conditions
How do you show that a suspected pathogen is the cause of a particular disease?
Koch’s Postulates
What are Koch’s Psotulates?
- the organism must be present in every case of a disease (but absent from healthy)
- the organism must be isolated from diseased host and cultivated in pure culture
- the cultivated organism must cause the same disease when inoculated into a naive host
- the organism must be recovered from the newly diseased host
What are problems with Koch’s Postulates?
a. some bacteria and all viruses can only be grown in eukaryotic cells
b. some agents cannot be cultured or no suitable animal model is available
mutualistic
both organisms benefit from the relationship
commensalistic
one organism benefits while the other neither benefits or is harmed
parasitic
one organism benefits (parasite) from the relationship and the other organism (host) is harmed
colonization
establishment and multiplication of a microorganism (pathogen or non-pathogen) in a host
infection
refers to the multiplication of a PATHOGEN in a host with or without disease (ex. asymptomatic carriers)
disease
occurs when an infected host is injured or damaged in a manner that impairs host function
When does bacteria colonization begin?
during or soon after birth
What is normal flora/microbiota/microbiome?
bacteria that establish permanent colonies inside of on the body without producing disease
bacterial antagonism
the normal flora can prevent colonization by pathogens
How many microorganisms normally reside in or on the body?
1x10^14 in total; 500 to 1000 species of bacteria live in the human gut, with a similar number on the skin
What kind of relationship do we have with normal flora?
previously commensalism;
currently it plays a critical role in our health and development
Characteristics of skin flora?
- a dry, acidic environment
- primarily moist areas colonized (associated with sweat glands)
- mainly gram positive bacteria
Characteristics of oral cavity flora?
- dental plaque = biofilm
- dental procedures can allow bacteria into bloodstream
Characteristics of GI flora?
- stomach kills most bacteria
- intestine = hella, higher pH
What are the benefits of the microbiota?
help digest food, required for healthy immune system, synthesis of vitamin B12 and vitamin K
What affects microbiota composition?
antibiotics, stress, changes in diet
what are probiotics?
supplemental beneficial bacteria that can help restore normal balance and composition of the microbiota
Characteristics of respiratory tract flora?
- upper heavily colonized
- lower essentially sterile