Gram Positive Rods (Exam 1) Flashcards
List the aerobic spore forming gram positive rods
bacillis anthracis
bacillis cereus
List the anaerobic spore forming gram positive rods
clostridium spp
List the non-spore forming gram positive rods
Listeria
corynebacterium
What type of shape does listeria have
uniform
What type of shape does corynebacterium have
irregular cornyform
What type of disease does bacillus anthracic give rise to
anthrax
What type of disease does bacillus cereus give rise to
gastroenteritis
What organism displays a box car like arrangement
bacillus anthracis
How will bacillus anthracis appear on gram stain
gram positive rods, boxy car with spores in chains
Describe the O2 requirements for anthrax and its motility
non-motile
aerobic: needs O2 to survive
If bacillus anthracis does not have o2 what occurs
it makes a spore
Where is anthrax found
ubiquitous, air, water, soil, vegetation
What are virulence factors produced by bacillus anthracis
capsule
anthrax toxin
endospore
What type of capsule is seen on bacillus anthrax
poly-D glutamic capsule: amino acid/protein capsule
What type of charge does the bacillus anthrax capsule have
negative charge
What is the function of bacillus anthrax capsule
inhibits host phagocytosis and host immune response
What encodes the capsule of anthrax
pxO1 plasmid
What encodes the anthrax toxin
pXO1
How many components compose the anthrax toxin
three
What are the three components of the anthrax toxin
Protective antigen (PA) Edema factor (EF) Lethal factor (LF)
What are the different ways the anthrax toxin can combine
EF+PA= edema toxin LF+PA= lethal toxin
WHat is te physiological effect of edema toxin from anthrax
activates adenylate cyclase. increases cAMP causing edema
What is the physiological effect of the lethal toxin of anthrax
Zinc dependent protease cleaves MAP kinase causing cell death
What are the different types of anthrax
cutaneous
inhalation
gastrointestinal
How is anthrax transmitted
most commonly infects wild and domestic hoofed animals
spread through direct contact with bacteria and spores
Is anthrax human to human transfer
no
What is the most common form of anthrax
cutaneous
How will cutaneous anthrax present
enters through skin, first cause edema (edema toxin) then a black pustule eschar (lethal toxin)
How is pulmonary anthrax transmitted
inhalation of spores from contaminated soil, dried or processed skins, and hides, or infected animals
Do spores have a taste or smell
no
How many anthrax spores do you need for infection
2500
How will pulmonary anthrax present
initial influenza symptoms: fever, myalgia, cough malais
rapid progression into respiratory distress, fever, shock, and death
What organism is associated with mediastinal widening
bacillus anthrax (inhalation)
Describe the course of infection of inhalation anthrax
Into the lungs. Macrophages ingest the spores and go to mediastinal lymph nodes
Spores germiante into active bacilli and produce toxins that lyse the macrophages and release bacilli into bloodstream
More toxins produced
What are possible ways to get GI anthrax
ingesting undercooked meat from anthrax infected animals
drink unchlorinated water harboring anthrax spores
How will GI anthrax present
abdominal distress, fever, septicemia, death
What population is at risk of developing anthrax
workers who process hides, hair, wool, bone, and bone products
ranchers
veterinarians
bioterrorism
How is anthrax diagnosed
Culture on blood agar
gram stain
PCR for anthrax toxin genes
How does anthrax cultured on blood agar help identify
characteristic colony morphology: large, dry, colonies with irregular edges
What are two forms of bacillus cereus
Emetic
Diarrhea
What is the incubation and duration time of emetic bacillus cereus
<6 hours incubation
8-10 hours duration
What is the incubation and duration time of diarrhea bacillus cereus
> 6 hours incubation
20-36 hours duration