Infection Biology Flashcards
Cause disease only in immunocompromised people
Opportunistic pathogens
Microbes that can cause disease
Pathogens
Measure of a microbe’s ability to cause disease
Virulence
Number of organisms required to cause disease in 50% of the population
ID50 Infective Dose 50
Mediates attachment of bacteria
Pili
Mediates strong adherence to the surface of human cells
Glycocalyx
Surface proteins that mediate binding to endothelium and to extracellular proteins such as fibronectin
Curli
Accelerates formation of a fibrin clot coating the organisms with a layer of fibrin
Coagulase
Helps spread through subcutaneous tissue
Collagenase and Hyaluronidase
Destroys both neutrophilic leukocytes and macrophages
Leukocidin
Enumerate bacteria with IgA Protease
Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Neisseria Meningitidis Neisseria Gonorrhea SHiNe My Gong
Protects against phagocytosis
Polysaccharide capsule
Anticapsular antibodies allow more effective phagocytosis to occur
Opsonization
Cell wall protein of S. pyogenes that is antiphagocytic
M protein
Cell wall protein of S. aureus that prevents complement activation
Protein A
Gram positive and negative bacteria Secreted from the cell Polypeptide Genes located in the plasmid or bacteriophage High toxicity High antigenicity Can be used as vaccines Destroyed rapidly at 60C
Exotoxins
Gram negative bacteria Not secreted from the cell Lipopolysaccharide Genes are found in the bacterial chromosome Low toxicity Low antigenicity No vaccine available Stable at 100C for an hour
Endotoxins
What kind of toxins does tetanus and botulism exhibit A) Endotoxin B) Exotoxin
B) Exotoxin
What kind of toxins does meningococcemia exhibit A) Endotoxin B) Exotoxin
A) Endotoxin
Polypeptides secreted by certain bacteria that alter specific cell functions resulting in the symptoms of disease
Exotoxin