Infections And Pathogenicity

Question 1

What are the 6 sources of pathogenic microbes?

Answer 1

Endogenous, nosocomial, community, food/water, animals, and environment

Question 2

What are the 4 types of transmission?

Answer 2

Direct = person to person or animal to person, includes droplet and aerosol
Indirect = via food, water, arthropod vectors
Horizontal = between individuals
Vertical = mother to baby

Question 3

Benefits of human microbiota

Answer 3

• breakdown indigestible carbs and fiber
• vitamin production
• regulation of immune system development and homeostasis
• role in immune tolerance and prevention of bowel disease
• displacement and inhibition of pathogens

Question 4

Infection vs infectious disease

Answer 4

Infection = parasitic colonisation of a host with or without perceptible harm

Infectious disease = infection causing perceptible harm or illness to the host

Question 5

3 forms of symbiosis

Answer 5

Parasitism = one organism benefits at the expense of another
Mutualism = both organisms derive a benefit
Commensalism = one organism benefits without causing harm to the other

Question 6

What is pathogenicity?

Answer 6

The ability of an infectious agent to cause disease

Question 7

Why is optimal virulence important?

Answer 7

Allows transmission and long term success as it doesn’t kill the host too quick