Host/Parasite Relationships- Bacterial Pathogenesis Flashcards
What is an adhesin?
Host cell or microbial external structure (often antigen) that binds to a substrate surface on another cell
What is a biofilm?
Describe its structure.
What is the purpose of having this complex structure?
Bacteria binding to each other and to surfaces within a polysaccharide slime.
It is made of pillars of bacteria surrounded by water channels where they can get nutrients and allow toxins to diffuse out of biofilm
The structure allows the bacteria to be refractory to disinfectants and antibiotics
What is commensalism, parasitism and symbiosis?
Commensalism- bacteria live inside a host (benefit) and cause the host no harm (neutral)
Parasitism- bacteria benefit at the expense of the host
Symbiosis- both organisms benefit
What is a cytotoxin?
A substance from microorganisms that can damage the structure or function of somatic cells of the host
What is the difference between an endotoxin and exotoxin?
Endotoxin is LPS on G- bacteria that is released at cell destruction during the normal growth cycle
Exotoxin is a substance released by the bacteria into the host cell to damage the structure/function of the invaded cell
What host cell surface glycoprotein mediates non-specific adherence of some bacteria (like staph)?
fibronectin
What does it mean if something is pyogenic?
It stimulates the recruitment of PMN white cells (neutrophils, etc)
What are the three major types of bacterial/host associations?
Describe each.
- Normal flora - symbiosis with the host aiding in digestion, production of vitamins (K) and protecting the host from colonization of pathogenic microbes
- Pathogenic bacteria- cause disease in the host and cause inflammation
- Opportunistic bacteria- cause disease in immunocompromised individuals (chemo, HIV, transplants)
What are the three things normal flora do that allow it to have a symbiotic relationship with the host?
- Digest food
- Synthesize vitamin K
- Protect from colonization of pathogenic microbes
What are the four major “natural defense” barriers against microbes?
- Skin
- Ciliated epithelium
- antibacterial secretions (lysozymes, bile)
- mucin
What are the major ways by which bacteria enter the skin?
They normally cannot (except nematodes) unless there is:
- broken skin- surgery, catheters, wounds
- skin trauma- biting arthropods
What are the four major body cavities by which bacteria enter?
- GI tract
- Urogenital tract
- Eyes
- Respiratory tract
What are four ways bacteria can penetrate the mucin layer (host “natural defense”)?
- Lack receptors for mucin so they don’t get trapped in the layer
- Motile bacteria move through the viscous mucin
- Secrete mucin-degrading enzymes
- Enter through M cells where the mucin is thinner
What is the function of the M cell?
What are two pathogens that enter the host through M cell?
To sample material passing through the intestine and deliver it to the immune system.
Shigella and salmonella
What are examples of bacteria that enter the host via ingestion? (6)
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Vibrio cholera
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- E. coli (diarrheagenic)
- Campilobacter
What are examples of bacteria that are inhaled? (5)
- Mycobacteria
- Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Nocardia
- Legionella
- Bordetella purtussis
What are examples of bacteria that enter via trauma? (4)
- Clostridium tetani
- Streptococci
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Pseudomonas
What are examples of bacteria that enter the host via arthropod bite? (4)
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- Rickettsia
- Erlichia
- Yersinia pestis
What are examples of bacteria that are transmitted sexually? (3)
- Treponema pallidum (syphillis)
- Neisseria gonorrheae
- Chlamydia trachomatis
What are the three major ways bacteria adhere to hosts?
- Pili and fimbrae
- Afimbral adhesins
- Biofilms
What are pili and fimbrae composed of?
What is their shape?
What portion, specifically, binds to the host?
They are protein structures made of an ordered array of single subunits.
They are rod shaped but different types have different thickness and length.
The tip structure attaches to the receptors on the host cell
What does the tip structure of pili and fimbrae allow the bacteria to do?
Overcome the - to - chemical repulsion of normal cells membranes and bind to glycoprotein or glycolipids on the host cell allowing a loose connection
Pili are constantly _________ and ________ partially due to their fragility.
Lost and reformed
Adhesion with _________ or _________ are generally loose connections while adhesion by ________ is usually stronger.
Pili and fimbrae make weak connections where afimbrial structures form stronger connections
The initial weak adhesion of pili trigger mechanisms of _______ and _______ in both the bacterial cell and the host.
- stronger adhesion
2. signal transduction
How do afrimbrial adhesins form stronger bonds than pili adherence?
Afimbrial adhesins bind to proteins rather than glycoproteins or glycolipids which provides a stronger bond
What are three examples of bacteria that utilize pili and fimbrae for adherence?
- vibrio cholera
- E. coli
- N. gonorrhea
What is an example of a bacteria that utilizes afimbrial adhesin for adherence?
E. coli AIDA and intimin