How bacteria cause disease Flashcards
Define pathogen
A microbe capable fo causing host damage/ disease
Define opportunistic pathogen
An organism that is a member of the resident microbiota or normally inhabiting the external environment that causes infection under certain circumstances
What does commensal refer to when describing micro organisms
Refers to a symbiotic relationship between a microorganism and its host where the micro organism befits from the host and the host is not harmed in the process
Define symbiont
A member of the resident microbiota that confers benefit to the host
Define pathbiont
A member of the resident microbiota that causes disease when loss of the normal balance between the host and resident microbiota (dysbiosis) occurs
Define dysbiosis
Imbalances in the resident human microbiota or our responses to them
Define pathogenicity
Capacity of a microbe to cause damage in a host
Define virulence
Relative capacity of an organism to cause damage in a host “degree of pathogenicity”
Define virulence determinant/ factor
Component of pathogens that damages the host/ allows pathogen to cause disease
How do we write lethal/infectious doses down?
LD50/ ID50
What does LD50 refer to?
Stands for 50% lethal dose
Number of organisms needed to kill half the host
What does ID50 refer to?
Stands for 50% infectious dose
Number of organism needed to cause infection in half the host
List the 4 major steps of the bacterial virulence mechanism
- Transmission
- Adherence to host surface
- Invasiveness
- Toxigenicity
How can infections be transmitted?
Externally or internally
Exogenously or endogenously
What are endogenous infections caused by?
Caused by the human microbiota behaving as a opportunistic pathogen
How can endogenous infections be transmitted?
- Ingestion
- Fecal contamination of food and water
- Inhalation
- Sexually
- Contaminated needles
- Insect bites
Name the 4 portals of entry for pathogens to get into out body
- Skin
- Respiratory tract
- Gastro intestinal tract
- Genito urinary tract
Following transmission what is the first step for infections to cause problems in a host?
Adherence to host surface
How can microorganism adhere to cell surface?
- Some have structural adaptations
2. Some produce chemicals to help them adhere to certain surfaces
How does e coli adhere to its host?
It has hair like pili that allow it to attach itself directly to the epithelium
How does neisseria gonorrhoea adhere to its host?
It has hair like pili that allow it to attach itself directly to the epithelium
How do s mutans adhere to its host?
Their extracellular polysaccharide structure help them to adhere to the enamel surface
What are 60% of human infections associated with?
The formation of a biofilm
How do bacteria in biofilms maintain their population levels
By releasing small amounts of chemicals called form sensing molecules
What are the benefits to bacteria of being in a biofilm
- Protection from host immune mechanisms
- Poor penetration of antimicrobials into deeper layers of the biofilm
- Degradation of antimicrobials
- Gene expression leading to more virulent or resistant organisms
What is invasiveness dependent on?
Depends on secreted bacterial enzymes
Give examples of bacterial enzymes that affect invasiveness
- Collagenase
- Hyaluronidase
- Coagulase
- Kinase