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Microbiology > Human Diseases > Flashcards

Human Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

Airborne Viruses

A

Chickenpox, Shingles, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Rubella, SARS, Smallpox.

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2
Q

Chickenpox

A

(Varicella-Zoster Virus). DNA virus.

Airborne; human reservoir

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3
Q

Shingles

A

(Herpes Zoster). Reactivated chickenpox.

Treatment: acyclovir, antivirals

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4
Q

Influenza

A

RNA virus.
Airborne; various animal reservoirs.
Secondary infections common (pneumonia)
Treatment: inactivated virus vaccine, symptomatic therapy
Antigenicity constantly changing due to antigenic drift (accumulation of mutations in a geographic area) and shift (reassortment of genomes when two strains infect the same cell).

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5
Q

Influenza Subtypes

A

Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). Each is a membrane surface protein that function in viral attachment and virulence.

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6
Q

Measles

A

(Rubeola). RNA Virus.
Airborne; causes subacute sclerosing panencephalitis which is a progressive degeneration of the CNS.
Treatment: symptomatic therapy, MMR vaccine

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7
Q

Mumps

A

RNA virus.
Airborne; can cause meningitis and orchitis (testes inflamm.)
Treatment: symptomatic therapy, MMR vaccine

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8
Q

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

A

RNA (-) virus.
Airborne or contact; dangerous for children; causes cold-like symptoms which may progress into bronchitis/pneumonia.
Treatment: inhaled ribavirin, RSV immune-globulin

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9
Q

Rubella

A

(German Measles). Enveloped RNA virus.
Airborne; causes mild rash; congenital version is bad for pregnancy, can lead to fetal death.
Treatment: MMR vaccine

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10
Q

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

A

(SARS-associated coronavirus).
Airborne; can be fatal, dry cough, often pneumonia.
Treatment: none approved

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11
Q

Smallpox

A

(Variola). Linear dsDNA virus.

Airborne or contact; causes rash and high fever.

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12
Q

Smallpox Erradication

A

Made possible because:
Humans are only reservoir, there are no asymptomatic carriers, the disease has obvious clinical features, and has a short infectivity period

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13
Q

Arthropod-borne Viruses

A

From blood-sucking arthropods. West Nile Fever.

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14
Q

West Nile Fever

A

(Encephalitis). RNA virus.

Arthropod-borne; causes fever, rash, possible encephalitis (inflamed brain).

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15
Q

Direct Contact Viruses

A

Via touching, sex, etc. AIDS/HIV, Cold Sores, Common Cold, Genital Herpes, Mononucleosis, Viral Hepatitis, Warts, Viral Gastroenteritis, Poliomyelitis.

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16
Q

HIV

A

RNA retrovirus.
Direct contact; can develop into AIDS (last stage) and compromise the host immune system. Course of disease is monitored by Th cell count (below 200/uL is AIDS)
Treatment: No cure, drug cocktails often used

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17
Q

HIV Life Cycle

A

Virion has a protein spike (gp120) that attaches to CD4+ cells. Reverse transcriptase then transcribes the RNA into dsDNA which is then integrated into the host as a provirus. Can remain latent or direct synthesis of new viruses that are released via budding.

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18
Q

HIV Stages

A

Acute: few weeks after infection; mild illness; virus replicates throughout body.
Asymptomatic (latent): 6 months-10years; virus is latent, but still replicating.
Chronic Symptomatic: can last for years, virus still replicating, CD4+ count drops significantly, opportunistic pathogens emerge.
AIDS: immune system no longer viable, CD4+ count below 200/uL or 14%.

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19
Q

HIV Drugs

A

Nucleoside RT Inhibitors (AZT)
Nonnucleoside RT Inhibitors
Protease Inhibitors
Fusion Inhibitors (prevent HIV entry into cells)

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20
Q

Berlin Patient

A

Only person ever cured of HIV. Received a stem cell transplant from a donor with the CCR5 delta32 mutation (CCR5 is a co-receptor for HIV).

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21
Q

Cold Sores

A

(Herpes simplex virus 1, HSV-1). Enveloped dsDNA virus.
Direct contact; infect epithelium around mouth, can be active or latent.
Treatment: acyclovir, antivirals, no vaccine

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22
Q

Common Cold

A

(Rhinoviruses). ssRNA viruses.
Airborne or direct contact
Treatment: symptomatic therapy

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23
Q

Genital Herpes

A

(HSV-2). Linear, enveloped dsDNA virus.
Direct contact; common STD, can be active or latent
Treatment: acyclovir, antivirals, no vaccine

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24
Q

Mononucleosis

A

(Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes). Enveloped dsDNA virus.
Direct contact; infects B cells and causes enlarged lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms; lasts 1-6 weeks.
Treatment: symptomatic therapy

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25
Q

Viral Hepatitis

A

A, B, C, D, and E. Inflammation of the liver.

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26
Q

Hepatitis A

A

(HAV). Linear RNA (+) virus.
Direct contact; spread by fecal-oral contamination; causes GI infection, jaundice.
Treatment: Killed HAV vaccine, hygiene

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27
Q

Hepatitis B

A

(HBV). dsDNA virus.
Direct contact, can pass through placenta and breast milk; Dane particle is virion; can cause jaundice, chronic infection can lead to liver cancer.
Treatment: passive immunotherapy, HBV vaccine

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28
Q

Hepatitis C

A

(HCV). RNA virus.
Direct contact via blood, fecal-oral, mother-fetus, or organ transplant; commonly leads to chronic infection, leading cause of liver transplant in US.
Treatment: combo therapy of Ribovirin and Interferon-alpha

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29
Q

Hepatitis D

A

(HDV, Delta agent). RNA virus.
Direct contact; dependent on HBV to provide envelope protein (HbsAG); causes severe acute and chronic infections in those with HBV.

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30
Q

Hepatitis E

A

(HEV). RNA virus.

Direct contact via fecal-oral route; high mortality in pregnant women, common in developing countries.

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31
Q

Warts

A

(Verrucae, human papillomavirus). DNA virus.
Direct contact; infect epithelium and mucous membranes; four types- genital warts is a major cause of cervical cancer.
Treatment: physical destruction, podophyllum, IFN-alpha

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32
Q

Viral Gastroenteritis

A

GI inflammation and diarrhea caused by rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, or norovirus. Leading cause of childhood death in developing countries.

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33
Q

Polio

A

(Poliomyelitis). RNA (+) enterovirus.
Direct contact; usually asymptomatic or mild, but can enter CNS and cause paralysis.
Treatment: vaccine

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34
Q

Zoonotic Viruses

A

Viruses with animal reservoirs that are transmitted to humans. Ebola, Marburg, Hantavirus, Rabies, Lassa fever, Nipah virus.

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35
Q

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever

A

(Filoviridae). ssRNA virus (-).
Zoonotic or direct contact; 80% fatal; causes internal hemorrhaging.
Treatment: none, supportive therapy

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36
Q

Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever

A

(Filoviridae). RNA virus.
Zoonotic; causes multi-organ dysfunction
Treatment: none

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37
Q

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

A

(HPS). ssRNA virus (-).
Zoonotic, fecal-oral inhalation from rodents
Treatment: none

38
Q

Rabies

A 
RNA virus (-).
Zoonotic, from saliva or fluids of infected animals; highly neurotropic, can ascend through CNS into brain and cause fatal encephalitis and paralysis.
Treatment: pre- and post-exposure vaccination
39
Q

Prion Diseases

A

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies that cause fatal neurodegenerative disorders that may remain clinically silent for months. Includes: Kuru, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

40
Q

Airborne Bacterial Diseases

A

Meningitis, Tuberculosis, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus.

41
Q

Meningitis

A

Inflammation of brain or spinal cord, many different causes. Bacterial cause identified by Gram (-) stain of CSF, from Strep. pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis (college), and Haemophilus influenza.

42
Q

Tuberculosis

A

(Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb).
Airborne or zoonotic; 1/3 of humans infected; develops slowly, kills lung macrophages during attack and forms tubercles; intracellular bacteria.
Treatment: antimicrobial therapy (if non-resistant strains)

43
Q

Mtb Virulence Factors

A

Mycolic acid and others kill eukaryotic cells and protect Mtb from lysozyme and lysis. Can survive phagocytosis inhibiting phag-lysosome fusion, diffusion of lysosomal enzymes, and resisting oxidative killing.

44
Q

Tubercles

A

Complexes of bacteria, macrophages, proteins, and T cells form during a hypersensitivity reaction to Mtb. Ghon complexes (calcified lesions) eventually form which are visible on X-rays.

45
Q

Streptococcus pyogenes

A

(Group A Streptococci, GAS). Gram (+)
Invasive: causes necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating), myositis (inflammation/destruction of muscle), and toxic shock-like syndrome (exotoxin that causes drop in blood pressure and organ failure).

46
Q

Streptococcal Pharyngitis

A

(Group A, noninvasive, Strep Throat). beta-hemolytic.
Direct Contact, via saliva, mucous; infection in throat or tonsils that can cause Rheumatic fever and Glomerulonephritis.

47
Q

Streptococcal Group B

A

(Streptococcus agalactiae). beta hemolytic. Gram (+).

Direct contact; common cause of neonatal and newborn diseases (sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia).

48
Q

Peptic Ulcer Disease/ Gastritis

A

(Helicobacter pylori). Gram (-).
Can cause ulcers and stomach cancers; produces urease (hydrolyzes ammonia, increasing pH), releases enzymes and toxins (proteases, phospholipases, and cytotoxins) that damage epithelial mucosal cells. Nobel prize for Marshall/Warren.

49
Q

Staphylococcal Diseases

A

Caused by Gram (+) Staphylococci. Facultative anaerobes, catalase positive. Part of normal flora.

50
Q

Staph. aureus

A

Coagulase positive, pathogenic. Can infect skin and organs, often nonsocomial (hospital-acquired). MRSA is resistant to beta-lactams and can be community acquired (CA).

51
Q

Staph. epidermidis

A

Coagulase negative, less pathogenic. Nonsocomial opportunist.

52
Q

Staphylococcal Virulence Factors

A

Invasiveness enzymes
Protein A (antiphagocytic)
Coagulase (produces fibrin clots to protect against phagocytosis)
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (inhibits phagocytosis, kills granulocytes)
Exotoxins (enterotoxins A,B,C,D,E responsible for food poisoning; Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 (TSST-1) superantigen)

53
Q

Toxic Shock Syndrome

A

Caused by TSST-1 superantigen of S. aureus. TSST-1 binds to MHC Class 2 and TCR, leading to T cell over expression and circulatory collapse/shock.

54
Q

Tetanus

A

(Clostridium tetani). Gram (+), anaerobic spore-former.
Transmitted through skin wounds from endospores in soil, dust, hospitals, and feces; produces tetanospasmin that causes muscle spasms and tetanolysin that hemolyzes.
Begins with cramping, then progresses to convulsions and respiratory spasms that may be fatal.
Treatment: antibiotics, DPT vaccine, prophylactic antitoxin

55
Q

Tetanus Toxin

A

Blocks release of inhibitory neurotransmitters between motor neurons, causing constant muscle contraction.

56
Q

Food/Water Borne Bacterial Diseases

A

Botulism, Cholera, E. coli, Salmonellosis, Typhoid fever.

57
Q

Botulism

A

(Clostridium botulinum). Gram (+), obligate anaerobe, endospore forming.
Common from home canned-food.

58
Q

Botulinum Toxin

A

Neurotoxin that binds to synapses of motor neurons and caused flaccid paralyses (opp. of tetanus), floppy baby.

59
Q

Cholera

A

(Vibrio cholerae).
Oral-fecal transmission, dirty water, uncooked seafood; causes “rice-water stools” (severe diarrhea); bacteria produces an enterotoxin that binds intestinal cells and reverses intestinal absorption. Prevented with water sanitation and thorough cooking.

60
Q

Cholera Toxin

A

AB toxin: B part binds to intestinal epithelial cells; A part enters, activates adenylate cyclase; cAMP is produced which stimulates secretion of Na+ and Cl-, causing water to follow out of cell.

61
Q

E. coli Gastroenteritis

A

(Traveler’s diarrhea). Six major pathogenic strains: enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic, enteroaggregative, and diffusely adhering.

62
Q

Enterotoxigenic E. coli

A

Produces enterotoxins responsible for diarrhea, ST (heat-stable) and LT (heat-labile), which cause secretion of electrolytes and water out of intestinal cells.

63
Q

Enteroinvasive E. coli

A

Reproduces within intestinal cells and may produce a cytotoxin and enterotoxin to cause diarrhea.

64
Q

Enteropathogenic E. coli

A

Attach to cells via adhesins and delivers virulence proteins by a Type III secretion system. Also causes lesion on intestinal cells by destruction of microvilli.

65
Q

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli

A

Causes hemorrhagic colitis and effacing lesions. Releases shiga-like toxins (Stx-1 and Stx-2).

66
Q

Enteroaggregative E. coli

A

Forms clumps that adhere to intestinal cells in a “stacked brick” appearance. Cause prolonged diarrhea in kids.

67
Q

Diffusely Adhering E. coli

A

Adheres in a uniform pattern to intestinal cells. More common in malnourished, immune-compromised children.

68
Q

Salmonellosis

A

Gram (-), non-spore forming.
Food/Water borne via produce and water; caused by >2000 Salmonella serovars (types); bacteria in intestines produce enterotoxin and cytotoxin diarrhea, cramps, fever, nausea.
Treatment: fluids and electrolytes, thorough cooking.

69
Q

Typhoid Fever

A

(Salmonella enterica). Gram (-).
Direct contact or fecal-oral contamination; bacteria can spread from intestines to other tissues and organs.
Treatment: antibiotics, vaccine, water purification, thorough cooking.

70
Q

Antibiotic-Associated Colitis

A

(Clostridium difficile). Anaerobic, spore-forming.
Opportunistic bacterium, pathogenic after excessive antibiotic use; pseudomembranous colitis is a collection of cells that obstructs the intestine; can lead to a toxic megacolon and tissue death. Most common cause of diarrhea in hospitals.
Treatment: antibiotics, fecal transplant

71
Q

Pathogenic Fungi

A

Eukaryotic saprophytes. Routes of infection: direct contact (superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous), systemic (moved to visceral tissue), and opportunistic mycoses.

72
Q

Pathogenic Protists

A

Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotic chemoorganotrophs. Transmitted via food/water vehicles, direct contact, and arthropod vectors.

73
Q

Dimorphic Fungi

A

Two morphologies (yeast and mold), often temperature dependent - Yeast (37C), Mold (25C). Often grow in soil as a mold, in bodies as a yeast.

74
Q

Coccidioidomycosis

A

(Coccidioides immitis). Dimorphic fungi.
Airborne, from dust; arthroconidia are inhaled, convert into large spherules in body. Valley fever, San Joaquin fever, Desert Rheumatism

75
Q

Cryptococcosis

A

(Cryptococcus neoformans). Yeast.

Airborne, inhalation of dried pigeon crap; systemic mycosis that can lead to meningitis or pneumonia.

76
Q

Histoplasmosis

A

(Histoplasma capsulatum). Dimorphic.
Airborne, mitoconidia are inhaled, converts to yeast in body; common lung disease that causes flu-like illness.
Treatment: soil decontamination, protective clothing

77
Q

Malaria

A

(Plasmodium). Plasmodial protist.
Arthropod borne via female mosquitos; causes chills, fever, anemia; diagnosed via RBC staining.
Treatment: antimalarial drugs, netting, insecticide, new vaccine

78
Q

Plasmodial Protist Life Cycle

A

Sporozoite injected with mosquito bite; replicates as merozoite in hepatic cells; releases, enters into erythrocytes, and replicates; lyses erythrocytes

79
Q

Trypanosomiasis

A

Caused by trypanosomes. Flagellated protists. alters protein coats (antigens) and evades immune response.

80
Q

African Trypanosomiasis

A

Transmitted via tsetse flies; leads to lethargy (sleeping sickness) and death in 1-3 years.
Treatment: drug therapy, no vaccine

81
Q

Chagas’ Disease

A

Trypanosomiasis transmitted via kissing bug that sucks blood then craps in wound. Trypanosome is in feces.
Acute: rapid onset, trypanosome moves through blood to cells and becomes amastigote, replicates.
Chronic: amastigotes reach heart and GI cells, replicate and cause heart disease due to parasitized cells.
Treatment: vaccines not efective due to antigenic variation

82
Q

Superficial Mycoses

A

Piedras: infections of hair shaft
Tineas: Infections of outer layers of skin, nails, hair
Most common in tropics

83
Q

Cutaneous Mycoses

A

Dermatomycoses, ringworm, and tineas; most common fungal diseases; diagnosed via skin biopsies and cultures on glucose agar.

84
Q

Trichmoniasis

A

(Trichomonas vaginalis). Flagellated protist.

Common STD; discharge from vagina, leukocyte accumulation at infection, asymptomatic in men.

85
Q

Toxoplasmosis

A

(Toxoplasma gondii). Nonmotile protist.
Rodent, cat reservoir, fecal-oral transmission; mostly asymptomatic or mono-like, encephalitis in immunocompromised hosts, tachyzoites can cross placenta and infect fetus (bad for pregnant women)
Treatment: antiparasites, cat handling practice

86
Q

Candidiasis

A

(Candida albicans). Dimorphic fungi.

Opportunistic, in normal flora; can be virulent with disruption of microbiota; infects skin and mucous membranes.

87
Q

Oropharyngeal Candidiasis

A

(Thrush). Common in newborns, denture wearers, steroid takers.

88
Q

Paronychia and Onychomycosis

A

Candida infections of subcutaneous tissue of finger and nails.

89
Q

Intertriginous Candidiasis

A

Infections of groin, skin folds.

90
Q

Napkin Candidiasis

A

(Diaper). Infects infants with dirty diapers.

91
Q

Balanitis

A

Candida infection of uncircumcised penis, transmitted via sex.

92
Q

Pneumocystis Pneumonia

A

(Pneumocystis jiroveci). Fungi.

PCP occurs in immunocompromised hosts; localized to lungs; common in AIDS patients.

Microbiology (5 decks)

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