Introduction To Microbes Flashcards
What categories can the microorganisms responsible for human disease be broken down into?
Viruses
Bacteria
Fungi
Parasites
Give an example of a virus?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Give an example of a bacteria
Nisseria Meningitidis
Give an example of a fungi
Thrush
Give an example of a parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
What does plasmodium falciparum cause?
Malaria
What are viruses?
Obligate intracellular parasites without a cellular structure
What do viruses consist of?
Molecule(s) of either DNA or RNA (but not both) surrounded by a protein coat
May also have an envelope
What is a viruses envelope derived from?
The plasma membrane of the host cell from which its released
What do viruses do?
Hijack the host’s mechanisms for creating mRNA and production of proteins to reproduce
What is the classification of viruses based on?
Their structure
What structural features can viruses be classified based on?
Single or double stranded Enveloped or not Positive or negative strand Icosahedral or helical DNA or RNA
Give an example of a single-stranded, non-enveloped DNA virus
Parvovirus 19
What can parvovirus 19 cause?
Mild infections in children
Fetal development issues in pregnant women
Give two examples of double-stranded, non-enveloped DNA viruses
Adenovirus
Human papilloma virus (HPV)
What can adenovirus cause?
Pharyngitis
Conjunctivitis
Infantile gastroenteritis
What does HPV induce?
Hyperplastic epithelial lesions of either cutaneous or mucosal epithelium
What do a small number of HPV virus types produce?
Lesions that have a risk of progressing to malignancy
Give an example of a malignancy that can arise from HPV infection
Cervical carcinoma
Give two examples of double-stranded, enveloped DNA viruses
Herpes
Hepatitis B
What are the types of herpes infections?
Primary HSV-1
Latent HSV-1
Primary HSV-2
Latent HSV-2
What can primary HSV-1 infections cause?
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis in adults
Gingivostomatitis in young children with ulcer forming usually in the oropharynx
What can latent HSV-1 infections cause?
‘Cold sores’ to appear on or around the lips
What can primary HSV-2 infections cause?
Lesions in the genital tract, similar to those found in the oropharynx in primary HSV-1 infections
What can latent HSV-2 infections cause?
Often asymptomatic
What does hepatitis B cause?
Acute hepatitis and later chronic liver disease
Give two examples of single-stranded, positive strand, icosahedral, non-enveloped RNA viruses?
Hepatitis A/E virus
Norovirus
How is hepatitis A/E most commonly spread?
Through fecally contaminated waters
What does the hepatitis A/E virus cause?
Hepatitis and impaired liver function
What is norovirus also known as?
The winter vomiting bug
What is norovirus the leading cause of?
Acute gastroenteritis
Where is norovirus common?
In closed environments, such as schools, hospitals, prisons, and cruise ships
Give 3 examples of single-stranded, positive strand, icosahedral or helical, enveloped RNA viruses
HIV
Hepatitis C
Rubella
How is HIV transmitted?
Sexually
Exchange of blood produces
Perinatally
How is HIV transmitted perinatally?
Transplacentally
During passage through the birth canal
By breastfeeding
What does HIV cause?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
What does HIV and AIDS allow?
Increasingly frequent and serious opportunistic infections to occur
What does the hepatitis C virus cause?
Destruction of liver cells
How does the hepatitis C virus cause destruction of liver cells?
Through viral replication and host response
How hepatitis C transmitted?
Via the blood
How is the rubella virus spread?
Via respiratory secretions
What does the rubella virus result in?
German measles