class #6- synbio and bacterial virulence

Question 1

what is PCR

Answer 1

the polymerase chain reaction

Question 2

what is synthetic biology

Answer 2

an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering

Question 3

what is the function of the PCR

Answer 3

it produces millions of copies of specific segments of DNA

Question 4

what is an endotoxin

Answer 4

a component of gram negative bacteria, it is a lipid

Question 4

What is an exotoxin

Answer 4

proteins that are secreted outside of bacterial cell. can be produced by gram + or gram -

Question 4

what are toxins

Answer 4

molecules that are produced by microorganisms that may affect cells in the infected host; there are exotoxins and endotoxins

Question 5

what is mamp

Answer 5

Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns

Question 6

what do endtoxins cause

Answer 6

-vasodilatation & hypotension
-massive inflammation
-a concern for blood-banking

Question 7

what are AB toxins

Answer 7

A subunit= catalytic portion
B subunit= binds receptor on surface of human cells

Question 8

what is AB5 complex

Answer 8

one A subunit and 5 B subunits
it endocytosed and dissociates when pH drops

Question 9

what are secretion systems

Answer 9

protein complexes present on the cell membranes of bacteria for secretion of substances

Question 10

what is the function of a secretion system

Answer 10

they help bacteria cause disease

Question 11

how are secretion systems classified

Answer 11

they are classified by how they work

Question 12

what are some secretion systems

Answer 12

T3SS, T4SS, T6SS

Question 13

how do T3SS, T4SS, T6SS systems work

Answer 13

they are a singular step that deliver toxins from bacteria to eukaryotic cells

Question 14

who is Stanley Falkhow

Answer 14

An early adopter of molecular biology, he did early work on plasmids and brought molecular biology to the study of bacterial pathogenesis

Question 15

what are some mechanisms of transmission

Answer 15

-fecal-oral
-airborne
-zoonnotic (through animals)
-sexually transmitted disease

Question 16

what are opportunistic infections

Answer 16

Infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems

Question 17

what is cholera

Answer 17

gram negative, Vibrio cholerae
- fecal-orale route

Question 18

what are opportunistic pathogens

Answer 18

bacteria that colonize or interact with our bodies and our innate immune system keeps them in check

Question 19

how does cholera outbreak occur

Answer 19

during periods of chaos in areas without sanitation

Question 20

what is the cholera toxin

Answer 20

the A subunit binds and activates adenylate cyclase (enzyme)
then results in chloride ion efflux (outward movement)
the ion imbalance results in loss of water

Question 21

what are the results of chloera

Answer 21

severe water diarrhea, can lose as much as 20L a day, and rehydration therapy is needed

Question 22

what is Botulism

Answer 22

a gram positive anaerobe, Clostridium botulinum, spore former
AN INTOXICATION not infection

Question 23

what is the Botulism toxin

Answer 23

the A toxin is a protease, cleaves proteins needed for release of acetylcholine from nerve to muscle

Question 24

what is Tetanus

Answer 24

Clostridium tetani, gram positive anaerobe, common in soils

Question 25

what is the Tetanus toxin

Answer 25

Tetnospasmin, an AB toxin that blocks neurotransmitter release