Gram - Respiratory Pathogens

Question 1

What type of bacteria is Neisseria?

Answer 1

gram - diplococci

Question 2

What is closely related to Neisseria and a common cause of Otis media in children?

Answer 2

Moraxella catarrhalis

Question 3

What is the only reservoir of Neisseria?

Answer 3

humans which inhabit mucosal surfaces

Question 4

What are the 2 main species of neisseria?

Answer 4

N. meningitisdis and N. gonorrhoeae

Question 5

T/F: 5-30% of the population carry N. meningitidis.

Answer 5

True!
This could be the cause of occasional outbreaks

Question 6

How is n. meningitidis transmitted?

Answer 6

large droplets in close range

susceptible in military groups

Question 7

T/F: meningitis is not a cause of concern regarding mortalities

Answer 7

False!
10-15% die even with antibiotics with the highest age group 15-24

Question 8

What happens after getting N. meningitidis?

Answer 8

carrier or severe disease: systemic inflammation (sepsis) depending on if capsule present and/or meningitis

Question 9

T/F: N. gonorrhea goes through the blood stream

Answer 9

False!
It always stays on the surface on urethral cells

Question 10

What is the vaccine for gonorrhea?

Answer 10

none

Question 11

What does the body recognize in gram -?

Answer 11

the LPS and body will produce cytokines for inflammation

Question 12

What is the LPS in respiratory bacteria like hemophalus and meniningits?

Answer 12

slightly different LPS called LOS endotoxin
has no O-antigen

Question 13

T/F: N. meningitidis has a capsule polysaccharide

Answer 13

True!
Major virulence factor used for vaccine

Question 14

What is a very distinctive feature of N. meningitidis?

Answer 14

they have a diplococci shape with pili/fimbriae

Question 15

Does N. meningitidis have exo-toxins?

Answer 15

No but they do have eco-enzymes: IgA protease (similar in strep pnuemoniae)

Question 16

Why didn’t the old vaccine for N. meningitidis not work on children?

Answer 16

because children can’t react to a pure carbohydrate vaccine so requires polysaccharide conjugated to protein

Question 17

What do they use for B capsule strains of meningitis?

Answer 17

2 outer membrane proteins

Question 18

What do all gram - bacteria release?

Answer 18

blebs or outer membrane vesicles which means it is another mean of DNA exchange and new generations must be made to keep up with the resistance

Question 19

T/F: Haemophilus is a major part of the normal flora of upper respiratory tract

Answer 19

True

The normal ones do not have a capsule but disease causing ones do

Question 20

How does Haemophilus spread?

Answer 20

person-to-person by inhaling airborne droplets and shared secretions

Question 21

What can be caused by Haemophilus?

Answer 21

sinusitis, pink eye, and pneumonia

Question 22

How are invasive infection of Haemophilus influenza spread?

Answer 22

type b capsule strains causing septicemia and meningitis

Question 23

What has LOS?

Answer 23

H. influenza and N. meningitis

Question 24

Which is gram +: neisseria meningitidis, haemophilus influenza, or streptococcus pneumoniae?

Answer 24

streptococcus pneumoniae

All are upper respiratory infections and all can cause meningitis by going through bloodstream with the capsule

Question 25

Is bordutella pertussis normal flora?

Answer 25

No, not normal flora and no carrier

Question 26

Who is most susceptible for B. pertussis?

Answer 26

newborns due to lack of maternal Ab

Question 26

Where B. pertussis attach?

Answer 26

attach to cilia (everything else is usually epithelial cells) and then kill epithelial cells so throat is without protection

Question 27

What are the 3 secreted extracellular toxins of B. pertussis?

Answer 27

pertussis toxin (cause macrophages to slow down)
adenylate cyclase toxin (cause macrophages to slow down)
tracheal cytotoxin

Question 28

How do the Pertussis toxins work in B. pertussis?

Answer 28

cause imbalance cAMP making macrophage less active or make epithelial cells move ions
-also major component of acellular vaccine toxoid

Question 29

How does tracheal cytotoxin work in B. pertussis?

Answer 29

controversal because it is a peptidoglycan monomer
but inhibits ciliated epithelial cells and triggers inflammation