Clostridia Flashcards

1
Q

clostridium bacteria are gram _____ and _____ anearobes

A

positive, strict

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2
Q

Clostridium are known to produce endospores, what is their function

A

its a virulence mechanism putting them in a metabollically “inactive state” meaning it protects them from adverse conditions and will remain inside spores untill optimal conditions return

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3
Q

what triggers the induction of spore formation in Clostridia

A

unfavorable environmental conditions

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4
Q

what are the 4 subspecies of Clostridium that can cause disease in humans

A

C. difficile
C. perfringens
C. botulinum
C. tetani

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5
Q

C. difficile is responsible for the leading cause of what?

A

nosocomial diarhea

-meaning usually associated w/antibiotics

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6
Q

what virulence mechanism does C. difficile use to cause diarhea

A
Toxin A (Enterotoxin=fluid loss)
Toxin B (Cytotoxin)
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7
Q

How could you diagnose C. difficile

A

ELISA detection of Toxin A

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8
Q

what makes up a pseudomembrane

A

fibrin + dead cells (via Toxin B)

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9
Q

What common disease is associated w/C. perfringens

A

gas gangrene

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10
Q

How does C. perfringens cause Gas gangrene

A

produces 12 toxins, specifically

Alpha-toxin (lecithinase)

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11
Q

What bacteria produces Alpha-toxin lecithinase, and what does it do

A

C. perfringens

-damages cell membranes causing gas gangrene

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12
Q

which bacteria causes a disease that has a 100 percent mortality rate if left untreated, what is it ?

A

C. perfringens

-gas gangrene

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13
Q

What species of clostridium can cause food posioning

A

C. perfringens from an enterotoxin produced

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14
Q

how do you treat an infection caused by C. perfringes casusing gas gangrene

A

surgical removal/amputation

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15
Q

what is significant about the spores produced by C. botulinum

A

spores are heat-resistent, meaning can survive food processing (canning)

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16
Q

what type of toxins does C. botulinum produce, and what is their mechanism of action

A

8 neurotoxins

  • prevents release of Ach
  • causing flaccid paralysis and then descends
17
Q

why would C. botulinum be a good bioweapon

A

lethal dose is less than 1 ug

-heat resistent spores

18
Q

what species of Clostridia causes flaccid paralysis w/in 12-36 hours

A

C. botulism

19
Q

what are the 3 types of Botulism

A
  • Food-borne botulism
  • wound botulism
  • infant botulism (less than 1 yr.)
20
Q

how would one be exposed to C. botulinum

A

eating canned goods containg the toxins

21
Q

how do you treat C. botulinum and why are antibiotics NOT neccesary

A
  • trivalent antitoxin (from horses)

- Antibiotics do NOT work b/c you are ingesting toxins from canned goods, not actual bacteria

22
Q

what is clostridiums main virulence mechanism

A

produces endospores

23
Q

what is the major toxin produced by C. tetani

A

tetanospasmin

24
Q

how does C. tetanani major toxin of tetanospasmin affect the body

A
  • toxin attaches to neurons around a wound
  • inhibits neurotransmitter release of GABA
  • causes spastic paralysis and reflex spasms
25
Q

Which bacteria causes flaccid paralysis and which casuses spastic paralysis ?

A

Flaccid - C. botulinum

Spastic - C. tetani

26
Q

During a C. tetani infection, where are symptoms first located or felt

A

Rostrally causing Trismus or “lockjaw”

27
Q

what bacteria can cause lockjaw

A

C. tetani

28
Q

how can you prevent C. tetani

A

with a DPT vaccine

-T stands for etanospasmin toxin