GRAM POSITIVE (+) AEROBIC BACILLI Flashcards
memroization
Aerobic gram-positive, spore-forming rods; catalase positive;’ most (but not all) are motile
Bacillus
The only truly pathogenic Bacillus
B. anthracis
The main host of B. anthracis:
Domesticated animals (e.g cows)
What disease is caused by B. anthracis
Anthrax
Enumerate types of anthrax:
- Cutaneous anthrax
- Gastrointestinal anthrax
- Inhalation anthrax
Most common anthrax type; characteristic central black painless eschar (ulcer) at the site of inoculation with surrounding edema; can lead to sepsis
Cutaneous anthrax
Most lethal and deadly anthrax type:
Inhalation anthrax
Other name of inhalation anthrax
“woolsorter’s disease”
The capsule of B. anthracis is made up of:
Poly-D-glutamic acid
Action of poly-D-glutamic acid in the capsule of B. anthracis
Antiphagocytic
Three proteins that makes up the anthrax toxin
- Protective Antigen (PA)
- Edema Factor (EF)
- Lethal Factor (LF)
EF + PA; responsible for cell and tissue edema:
Edema toxin
LF + PA; cause of death in infected animals and humans:
Lethal toxin
Bacillus anthracis on sheep blood agar at 24 hours:
Non-motile and Non-hemolytic
Tip: Read Bacillus anthracis as “Bacillus NONthracis”
Colony appearance of B. anthracis on blood agar:
“Medusa head” appearance of colonies
Microscopic appearance of B. anthracis:
Bamboo pole arrangement
“Boxcar” appearance (Centrally located spore)
Bacillus species that can cause food poisoning:
Bacillus cereus
2 distinct form of food poisoning caused by B. cereus:
- Emetic type
- Diarrheal type
Associated with fried rice, milk and pasta; caused by ingestion of preformed emetic toxin
Emetic type
Associated with meat dishes and sauces; ingested spores develop into vegetative cells that secrete enterotoxins
Diarrheal type
Difference between B. anthracis and B. cereus
B. anthracis:
- Non-hemolytic
- Non-motile
B. cereus:
- Beta-hemolytic
- Swarming motility (similar to proteus)
Other name of Corynebacterium diptheriae
Diphtheria bacillus/ Kleb Loeffler’s bacillus
An acute contagious disease characterized by the production of a systematic toxin and a false membrane lining on the throat (pseudomembranous)
Diphtheria
Appearance of C. diphtheriae on Loeffler’s serum agar:
(+) Poached egg colonies
Skin test for C. diptheriae susceptibility
Schick’s test
In vitro virulence test for C. diphtheriae:
ELECK METHOD
positive result for Elec method:
precipitin lines (+)