Gram Positive Bacteria Flashcards
They activate the host cell’s cytoskeletal machinery enabling bacterial entry into the cell so it can get nutrients and be protected from complement (the host’s way of popping the bacterial cell membrane), antibodies, and other body defenses.
INVASINS
They are surface proteins found in the cell wall of various bacteria to enable them to bind to specific receptor molecules on the surface of host.
ADHESINS
Acts on the intestinal wall (causes GI upset)
They tend to be produced by Gram-positive bacteria rather than by Gram-negative bacteria. There are exceptions, such as Vibrio cholerae.
Enterotoxins
Pieces of the bacterium which are toxic to humans.
Endotoxin
A protein in the cell wall of many Gram negative organisms. It is detected as foreign (an antigen) and launches an immune response.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
A portion of the lipopolysaccharide which is also an antigen.
Lipid A
Produced by a bacterium and then released from the cell into the surrounding environment. The damage caused by an exotoxin can only occur upon release.
Exotoxin
What does Hemolysin cause?
rupture of red blood cells
What do Neurotoxins do?
disrupts nerve cells
What does H Ag stand for?
The H antigen is a flagella on bacteria
What is K Ag?
an antigenetic protein on the capsule of bacteria
What is O Ag?
A string of sugars on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bacterial cell walls.
What do capsules do for bacteria?
Helps prevent phagocytosis
How does motility help bacteria?
Helps to spread disease within host
Means the organism has the ability to cause blood vessels to grow towards it to feed it.
Angiotropic
What does β lactamase block?
An enzyme produced by some bacteria that blocks the ability of certain antibiotics (penicillin) to destroy the bacteria.
Genes that provide tetracycline resistance
MDR plasmids
Capable of transient survival even in phagocytes that exert oxidative / non-oxidative mechanisms.
Facultative intracellular pathogens
An enzyme produced by some bacteria that modifies host’s proteins, causing massive fluid secretion from the lining of the lumen (in intestines causes diarrhea, in trachea causes coughing). Seen in cholera toxin, diphtheria toxin, and pertussis toxin.
Ribosylase
What does Coagulase do?
Enzyme produced by some bacteria that causes tiny blood clots so bacteria can hide from WBC’s.
What does IgA or IgG protease do?
Enzyme produced by some bacteria that prevents agglutination by antibodies.
What does PG (prostaglandin) cause?
The immune response causes the host to release PG to fight the infection but the side effects are fever (pyrogenic) and inflammation.
An enzyme produced by some bacteria that dissolves fluid between cells so bacteria can spread faster between tissue planes.
Hyaluronidase
What does SOD (superoxide dismutase) do?
An enzyme produced by some bacteria that deactivates bleach and other substances in WBC lysosomes.
What does Staphylokinase do?
An enzyme produced by some bacteria that digests clots so bacteria can spread.
Is Staphylococcus normal flora?
Yes; that means it is part of every human’s microbiota, and can be opportunistic pathogens if the skin is broken.
Difference between staphylococcus from Streptococcus? Staphylococcus has…
Catalase present, which converts
H2O2 –> H2O + O2
-That allows them to deactivate hydrogen peroxide in WBC lysosomes.
Structure and physiology of staphylococcus.
- Gram-positive cocci, non-motile, facultative anaerobes
- Cells occur in grapelike clusters because cells division occurs along different planes and the daughter cells remain attached to one another
- Salt-tolerant-allows them to tolerate the salt present on human skin
- Tolerant of desiccation (drying)-allows survival on environmental surfaces (fomites)
Four species of Staphylococcus that cause disease in humans.
S. aureus
S. haemolyticus (axillae, perineum, and ingunial areas)
S. epidermidis
S. saprophyticus
How else does S. aureus interfere with white blood cells (WBCs)?
Inhibit chemotaxis of WBC’s.
Having Protein A on its cell surface inhibits phagocytosis by WBC’s.
How does S. aureus interfere with antibody attacks?
Binds the hypervariable region of IgG antibodies.
Having Protein A on its cell surface inhibits the complement cascade (part of immune response which pops the bacterial cell membrane).
How does a slime layer provide defense against Phagocytosis?
Facilitates attachment of Staphylococcus to artificial surfaces.
How does S. aureus interfere with the action of platelets?
By producing coagulase, an enzyme that makes tiny blood clots to allow the bacteria to hide from phagocytic cells. It also produces staphylokinase, allowing it to free itself from clots when it wants to.
How does S. aureus spread in the body?
By producing Hyaluronidase to break down hyaluronic acid, enabling the bacteria to spread between cells. Hyaluronic acid is a fluid between body cells, and is also found in joints.
How does S. aureus survive on the skin surface?
By producing the enzyme lipase, which digests lipids, allowing staphylococcus to grow on the skin’s surface and in cutaneous oil glands.
What does S. aureus use the enzyme DNase for?
Reduces viscosity in abscesses
What does S. aureus use the enzyme β-lactamase for?
Breaks down penicillin and other β -lactam antimicrobial drugs.
Which Gram positive bacteria produce more toxins than other species?
Staphylococcus aureus
What are Hemolysins?
Enzymes produced by some bacteria that breaks down red blood cells so bacteria can ingest the nutrients.
What are enterotoxins?
Stimulate the intestinal muscle contractions, nausea, and intense vomiting associated with staphylococcal food poisoning.
What are 3 types of hemolysis?
- a (alpha hemolysis). The red blood cell is only partially destroyed. Shows up as a green color on a blood agar plate.
- b (Beta hemolysis). The red blood cell is completely destroyed. Shows up as a clear area on blood agar plate. Streptococcus (strep throat) is one organism that does this.
- g (gamma hemolysis). RBC is not destroyed. No color change on blood agar plate.
Staphylococcal Diseases – What are the 3 categories?
Noninvasive Disease
Cutaneous Disease
Systemic Disease
What are the characteristics of noninvasive staphylococcus disease?
Food poisoning from the ingestion of enterotoxin-contaminated food.
What are the symptoms of staph food poisoning?
Nausea, vomiting, retching, stomach cramping, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, dehydration, headache, muscle cramping, and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur.
What are the characteristics of cutaneous staphylococcal disease?
Various skin conditions including scalded skin syndrome, impetigo, folliculitis, and furuncles (boils).
What is Toxic shock syndrome-TSS?
Toxin is absorbed into the blood and causes shock that is life threatening.
Presence of bacteria in the blood.
Bacteremia
Occurs when bacteria attack the lining of the heart.
Endocarditis
Inflammation of the lungs in which the alveoli and bronchioles become filled with fluid.
Pneumonia
Infection of bone.
Osteomyelitis
How do you determine if Staphylococcus species is S. aureus?
S. aureus is coagulase positive
If a Staphylococcus is coagulase negative, how do you determine if the species is epidermidis or saprophyticus?
S. epidermidis: Novobiocin-sensitive
S. saprophyticus: Novobiocin-resistant
What are the characteristics of S. epidermidis?
- Coagulase-negative
- Produces a biofilm that allows adherence to prosthetic devices. People with artificial joints need prophylactic antibiotics before other surgeries for this reason.
- Quorum-sensing
What is quorum-sensing?
Ability to coordinate gene expression according to the density of their local population. They will wait until there are many bacteria nearby, and then they will all start at the same time to express genes for proteins to help with the invasion. This coordinated invasion overwhelms the host defenses.
What drug is used to treat staphylococcal infections?
Methicillin
What is Methicillin?
Is a semisynthetic form of penicillin and is not inactivated by b-lactamase.
What does MRSA stand for?
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Where do many MRSA infections occur?
In hospitals and healthcare facilities
The type of MRSA with a higher incidence rate in nursing homes or long-term care facilities is known as what?
Healthcare acquired MRSA or HA-MRSA
What is becoming increasingly difficult to treat?
Serious MRSA infections, especially HA-MRSA infections.
How do you prevent infection by S. epidermidis?
- Hand antisepsis is the most important measure in preventing nosocomial infections (wash hands after patient contact)
- proper cleansing of wounds and surgical openings
- aseptic use of catheters or indwelling needles
- appropriate use of antiseptics
What is the structure of streptococcus?
Gram-positive cocci, arranged in pairs or chains, that are facultative anaerobes.
How are streptococci classified?
The Lancefield classification
What is the Lancefield classification entail?
- Divides the streptococci into serotype groups based on the bacteria’s antigens (M proteins)
- Human streptococcal pathogens are in Lancefield groups A and B
What is the Lancefield Group A pathogen?
Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat). It is beta hemolytic, like Groups B, C, and D.
What is the Lancefield Group B pathogen?
Streptococcus agalactiae (normal GI flora in adults, but is the major cause of septicemia in newborns).
Do pathogenic strains of Streptococcus pyogenes form a capsule?
YES
What is pharyngitis?
Inflammation of the pharynx
What is scarlet fever caused by?
It is caused by erythrogenic toxin (a bacterial exotoxin) released by Streptococcus pyogenes. It causes fever, sore throat, bright red tongue, and rash.
Where does scarlet-fever rash begin and where does it spread to?
Begins on the chest and spreads to the rest of the body.
What is pyoderma?
Confined, pus-producing lesion that usually occurs on the face, arms, or legs.
What is streptococcal toxic shock syndrome?
Bacteremia and severe multisystem infection.
What do pyrogenic toxins do?
Stimulate WBCs to release cytokines, which call other WBCs to the infection site and also causes fever.
What 3 types of cells do streptolysins lyse?
White blood cells, Red blood cells, Platelets
What does Protein M do to help Group A streptococci?
Protein M helps to camouflage them from WBCs.
What is Necrotizing fasciitis?
Bacterial infection that destroys muscle and fat tissue and quickly spreads between tissue planes.
What are the early signs and symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis?
Severe pain and swelling. Often rapidly increasing, fever, redness at a wound site.
What is Rheumatic fever?
Streptococcal infection that has entered the bloodstream and can lead to scarring of heart valves.