bacterial properties and disease

Question 1

define infectivity

Answer 1

ability to be transmitted to host, to colonise, replicate and evade immune response all while finding a unique niche (inside or outside cells)

Question 2

define virulence

Answer 2

features to enhance disease causation e.g. toxin production, interruption of host processes and degradation of host molecules

Question 3

define infectious dose

Answer 3

number of bacteria needed to cause infection, depending on route of entry, replication speed, tropism, ability to colonise and immune evasion (pathogens with killing, subversion of, phagocytes or immune system have a much lower infective dose)

Question 4

define pathogenicity

Answer 4

ability to cause disease

Question 5

describe true pathogens

Answer 5

affects all individuals

Question 6

descibe opportunistic pathogens

Answer 6

affects immunocompromised or weakened immune system

Question 7

describe commensal bacteria

Answer 7

do not cause disease