Describe the main sexually transmitted pathogens from a microbiology point of view (pathogen classification, virulence, transmission mechanisms and diagnosis method) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is this?

A

The treponemal antibody absorption test for syphilis

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2
Q

What are obligate intracellular bacterium?

A

microparasites that are capable of growing and reproducing inside the cells of a host

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3
Q

How is virulence defined in HIV?

A

as the rate of progression to AIDS in untreated infections

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4
Q

How is Neisseria gonnorrhoeae sexually transmitted?

A

the pathogen induces a discharge that allows spread through close sexual contact

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5
Q

Which virulence factor assists the binding of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae to epithelial cells?

A

Opa proteins

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6
Q

How do LOS (lipooligosaccharide) contribute to the virulence of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae?

A

endotoxin activity

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7
Q

How does T. pallidum spread vertically?

A

via transplacental infection of the fetus

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8
Q

What is the virulence of chlamydia trachimatis

A

the fact that it is an obligate intracellular bacterium

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9
Q

How do pilus contribute to the ability of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae to cause an STD?

A

they contain constant and hypervariable regions that contribute to antigenic diversity in gonocci

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10
Q

What are 4 features of non-specific syphilis tests?

A
  1. they show up as positive within 4-6 weeks of infection
  2. they decline in positivity in 3º syphilis or after effective antibiotic treatment of 1º/2º syphilis
  3. they are useful for screening
  4. they may give biological false positives
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11
Q

What do ELISA tests for syphilis detect?

A

IgM and IgG

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12
Q

What pathogen causes gonorrhoea?

A

Neisseria gonnorrhoeae

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13
Q

Which pathogen causes chlamydia?

A

chlamydia trachimatis

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14
Q

How is HIV classified?

A

the human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus

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15
Q

How does T. Pallidum enter the body?

A

Through minute abrasions on the skin or mucous membranes

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16
Q

What do laboratory tests for HIV infection involve?

A
  1. serological analysis
  2. molecular analysis
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17
Q

What pathogen causes syphilis?

A

Treponema pallium

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18
Q

What are the 3 most common mucosal surfaces that provide a transmission route for HIV?

A
  1. cervicovaginal
  2. penile
  3. rectal
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19
Q

Which sexually transmitted disease is linked with cervical cancer?

A

the human papillomavirus

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20
Q

How does IgA protease contribute to the virulence of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae?

A

core contains an enzyme that is released by the cell to destroy IgA1

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21
Q

Which virulence factor aids attachment of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae to human mucosal epithelium?

A

Pilus

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22
Q

Which virulence factor allows Neisseria gonnorrhoeae to resist phagocytosis?

A

capsule

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23
Q

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

A
  • pain when peeing
  • bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
  • pain and swelling in the testicles
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24
Q

True or false?

Neisseria gonnorrhoeae is stable on drying

A

false - it is unstable

25
Q

How do we diagnose chlamydia?

A

with a variety of nucleic-acid based tests that are commercially available

26
Q

Which 3 methods are used to diagnose gonorrhoea?

A
  1. microscopy
  2. culture of appropriate specimens
  3. molecular tests
27
Q

What infection does Gardnerella vaginalis cause?

A

bacterial vaginosis

28
Q

Which chlamydia trachimatis serotypes cause sexually transitted genital infections?

A

serotypes D-K

29
Q

What STD is caused by Treponema pallium?

A

Syphilis

30
Q

What STD is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi?

A

Chancroid

31
Q

What type of pathogen is Treponema pallidum?

A

Spirochetes

32
Q

True or false?

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 is the most common cause of genital herpes

A

false. (HSV)-2 is the most common cause of genital herpes

33
Q

Which sexually transmitted disease is spread by Neisseria gonnorrhoeae?

A

Gonnorrhoea

34
Q

How does T. pallidum spread horizontally?

A

Through sexual contact

35
Q

How does the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test work?

A

The patient’s serum is absorbed with non-pathogenic treponemes to remove cross-reacting antibodies before reaction with T. pallidum antibodies

36
Q

What are the symptoms of HIV?

A
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Muscle aches
37
Q

What is the definition of antigenic?

A

A substance that causes the body to make an immune response against the substance

38
Q

What 3 pathogens could cause a genital tract infection?

A
  1. Mycoplasma hominis
  2. M. genitalium
  3. Ureaplasma urealyticum
39
Q

True or false? the T. pallidum genome sequence does not reveal any classical virulence factors that could account for syphilis symptoms

A

True

40
Q

What are spirochetes?

A

gram-negative, motile, spiral bacteria

41
Q

What are 2 examples of opportunist STIs?

A
  1. salmonellae
  2. hepatitis A
42
Q

What 3 transmission routes can HIV take?

A
  1. involving mucosal surfaces (>80% of adults)
  2. intravenous routes
  3. percutaneous routes
43
Q

What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?

A
  • a thick green/yellow discharge from the vagina or penis
  • pain when peeing
  • itching and soreness
44
Q

Which 3 specific tests are available to diagnose syphilis?

A
  1. the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  2. the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test
  3. the microhaemagglutination assay for T.pallidum
45
Q

How does chlamydia trachimatis infect human cells?

A
  1. they bind to specific receptors on the host cells and enter the cells by ‘parasite-induced’ endocytosis
  2. once inside the cell, fusion of the chlamydia-containing vesicle with lysosomes is inhibited and the EB begins its developmental cycle
46
Q

What is a retrovirus?

A

a virus that uses RNA as its genetic material

47
Q

What are the symptoms of syphilis?

A
  • small sores around the genitals or bottom
  • a rash, usually on the hands and feet
  • white patches in the mouth
48
Q

What infection does Trichomonas vaginalis cause?

A

vaginitis (with copious discharge)

49
Q

How is chlamydia trachimatis classified?

A

it is a gram-negative bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites

50
Q

What do por proteins do and how do they contribute to the virulence of Neisseria gonnorrhoeae?

A
  1. form pores through outer membrane
  2. antigenic
51
Q

When is congenital syphilis acquired?

A

after the first 3 months of pregnancy

52
Q

How does chlamydia trachimatis enter the body?

A

through minute abrasions in the mucosal surface

53
Q

How is Neisseria gonnorrhoeae classified?

A

It is a gram-negative coccus

54
Q

Which 2 non-specific/non-treponemal tests

A
  1. the venereal disease laboratory (VDRL) test
  2. the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test
55
Q

What type of cell does HIV initially target? What are 3 examples of these cells?

A

CD4 receptor-bearing cells

  1. T-helper cells
  2. monocytes
  3. macrophages
56
Q

What is horizontal spread?

A

transmission of organisms between humans that are not parent + child

57
Q

What is the window period for detecting HIV?

A

7-21 days

58
Q

What pathogen causes HIV?

A

Human immunodeficiency virus