DD - Practice Questions (Week 1 and 2) Flashcards
Components of Gram-positive bacteria
Peptidoglycan
Teichoic acids
Cytoplasmic membrane
Components of Gram-negative bacteria
Peptidoglycan Lipopolysacharide Cytoplasmic membrane Outer membrane Periplasmic space Porin proteins
Toxic portion of endotoxin
Lipid A: component of outer membrane in Gram-negative organisms
O and H antigens
O antigen: oligosaccharide antigen
H antigen: flagellar antigen
Why aren’t beta-lactams effective against bacteria in the stationary phase of growth?
Beta-lactam antibiotics target cell wall synthesis; bacteria in the stationary phase are not synthesizing cell walls and so can’t be targeted by beta lactams. Beta lactams are more effective against bacteria in the log phase.
Targets of quinolone antibiotics
DNA synthesis inhibitors: DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase
Immune defenses associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
T-cell mediated defense (M. tuberculosis is an intracellular pathogen)
Coagulase
Agent that inhibits spread of microbes by promoting the deposition of fibrin and helping to “wall off” and localize infections.
Infection
Process whereby a microbe enters into a relationship with the host
Pili
Most commonly involved in mediating adherence of bacteria to human cells - used in bacterial conjugation
Pediatric pneumococcal vaccine
Polysaccharide capsule-protein conjugate: used in children. Illicit help mechanism. Needed to elicit more than an IgM response, which is not protective in children
Rheumatic fever
Caused by production of an antibody against Group A Streptococci that cross-reacts with tissue in the heart
Bacteria causing catheter infections
Staphylococcus (aureus, epidermidis), Enterococcus faecalis
Bactericidal or bacteriostatic antibiotics (in terms of MIC/MBC)
Bactericidal: MBC/MIC < or = 4
Bacteriostatic: MBC/MIC > 4
Botulinum toxin
Cleaves a specific SNARE complex protein, preventing release of intercellular vesicular contents (neurotransmitters)
Phosphatases in Gram-negative bacteria
Most likely to localize in periplasm
Why is it difficult to become immune to Streptococcus pyogenes?
Immunity is related to formation of Ab against M-protein. But becoming immune to all 70 M-protein serotypes is virtually impossible.
Why is it difficult to become immune to Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Immunity is related to producing Ab against the polysaccharide capsule. But becoming immune to all different capsular antigenic types is very difficult.