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VMS2009 General Pathology and Concepts of Infectious Disease > Key Terminology & Definitions - Bacteriology > Flashcards

Key Terminology & Definitions - Bacteriology Flashcards

1
Q

Bacteria

A

Single-cell organisms = prokaryotes which have no chlorophyll, multiply by simple division and some of which cause diseases in animals, plants and humans

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2
Q

Respiratory host bacteria

A

Mycobacterium, haemophilus

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3
Q

Intestinal host bacteria

A

Salmonella, E. coli, Yersinia

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4
Q

Skin host bacteria

A

Staphylococcus aureus

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5
Q

Systemic host bacteria

A

Streptococcus suis, salmonella

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6
Q

Gram-positive bacteria

A

Thicker cell wall, lacks cell envelope (one cell mem), contains teichoic acid, purple/blue staining

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7
Q

Gram-negative bacteria

A

Thin cell wall, have cell envelope (two cell mems), don’t have teichoic acid, pink staining

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8
Q

Mycobacteria

A

Gram-positive, but don’t stain well, ZN stain better, acid-fast

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9
Q

Spirochaetes

A

Gram-negative, don’t stain well, silver stains, spiral/corkscrew

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10
Q

Mycoplasma

A

Very small bacteria, lacks cell wall, have very few genes, many ABs ineffective against them, cause disease in humans and animals (arthritis, abortion, pneumonia, infertility, meningitis and mastitis)

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11
Q

Binary fission

A

Bacterial replication

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12
Q

Infectious disease

A

Disease caused by a microorganism, potentially transferable to new individuals, may or may not be communicable/contagious

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13
Q

Contagious disease

A

Disease capable of spreading rapidly from one individual to another by contact or close proximity e.g. Parvo, MRSA

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14
Q

Communicable disease

A

Infectious disease that is contagious and can be transmitted from one source to another (term more in human medicine)

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15
Q

Non-contagious infectious disease

A

Infectious disease not transmitted by direct contact or exposure to contaminated environment (needs a vector) e.g. Bluetongue, Malaria, Lyme disease

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16
Q

Primary pathogens

A

Can cause disease in a healthy host (true pathogens), satisfy Koch’s postulates e.g. Bovine TB, Salmonella, Anthrax

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17
Q

Opportunistic pathogens

A

Cause disease in the presence of or following a predisposing factor e.g. Avian colibacillosis - depends on certain circumstances

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18
Q

Horizontal transmission

A

Same generation

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19
Q

Direct contact

A

E.g. Sarcoptes scabiei canis, Microsporum canis, MRSA

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20
Q

Sexual transmission

A

E.g. Trichomonas foetus, Brucella, CEM (contagious equine metritis), papillomavirus

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21
Q

Vertical transmission

A

Different generation e.g. mother to offspring - FIP, Brucella, Salmonella (eggs), BVD)

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22
Q

Indirect transmission

A

Contaminated food/water (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria); actively/passively by vectors (Malaria, West nile, Bluetongue); Airbone (Avian flu, FMDV); contaminated equipments (Fungi, Sarcoptes scbiei, FMDV, mastitis); infected lorries/housing; environment (wildlife).

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23
Q

One health concept

A

Recognises the interrelationship between animal, human and environmental health

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24
Q

Bacilli

A

Rods

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25
Q

Cocci

A

Spherical

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26
Q

Spirocheates (morphology)

A

Long, thin, windings

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27
Q

Vibrios

A

Comma (bean-shaped)

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28
Q

Gram-staining

A

Distinguishes between gram +ive and gram -ive, based on retaining crystal violet staining + counterstaining, heat fixation, not usable with all bacteria
Gram +ive will retain purple colour (peptidoglycan binds CV), gram -ive will be destained by alcohol (no trapping of CV to peptidoglycan)

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29
Q

Diff Quick staining (modified Giemsa/Romanowsky)

A

Rapid staining for morphology, wet fixation

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30
Q

Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining

A

Specific staining for mycobacteria

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31
Q

Silver staining

A

Specific staining for spirocheates

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32
Q

Peptidoglycan

A

Gives rigidity to bacterial cells, assists in preventing phagocytosis, has pyrogenic properties (causes fever), can be degraded by lysozyme enzyme

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33
Q

Fastidious organisms

A

Require particular nutrient requirement

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34
Q

Non-fastidious organisms growth media

A

Nutrient media - nutrient agar, Mueller Hinton (broth media)

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35
Q

Fastidious organisms growth media

A

Enriched media - blood/serum agar (whole blood, lysed blood, serum), other supplements (electron acceptors, energy sources)

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36
Q

Selective media

A

Supplemented plates e.g. antibiotics (Campylobacter)

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37
Q

Differential use of nutrients

A

Fermentation of sugars - MacConkey agar - stops gram +ive from growing/fungi

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38
Q

Oxidase test

A

Test for gram -ive bacteria, based on cytochrome C oxidase
Positive e.g. Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Moraxella, Campylobacter (gram -ive)
Negative e.g. Enterobacteriaceae (gram +ive)

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39
Q

Catalase test

A

Measures conversion of H2O2 to H2O and O2 = bubbles
Positive e.g. Staphyloccus, Listeria, Enterobacteriaceae
Negative e.g. Streptococcus, enterococcus

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40
Q

Coagulase test

A 
Converts fibrinogen (soluble) to fibrin (insoluble), used to distinguish Staphylococcus species
Positive: S. aureus, S. intermedius
Negative: S. epidermidis, S. hominis
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41
Q

MacConkey agar

A

Selects for lactose-fermenters, senses pH-change with neutral red —> purple, inhibits gram +ive growth with bile and CV
Lactose fermenting colonies = pink, non-lactose fermenting colonies = colourless

42
Q

Lactose fermenting colonies

A

Escherichia coli, enterobacter aerogenes (Enterobacteriaceae)

43
Q

Non-lactose fermenting colonies

A

Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus

44
Q

Haemolysis

A

Breakdown of RBCs, ability of bacterial colonies to induce haemolysis when grown on blood again differs between microorganisms

45
Q

Beta-haemolysis

A

Complete haemolysis, see-through, see a lot of light e.g. Streptococcus pyogenes

46
Q

Alpha-haemolysis

A

Incomplete haemolysis e.g. Escherichia coli

47
Q

Gamma-haemolysis

A

Lack of haemolysis (none) e.g. Staphyloccus epidermidis

48
Q

Serology

A

Based on antisera to surface structures - flagella (H antigen), lipopolysaccharide (LPS/LOS), capsule (K antigens in E. coli)

49
Q

Phage-typing

A

Based on susceptibility to panel of bacteriophages

50
Q

Antimicrobial susceptibility

A

Based on susceptibility/resistance to specific antimicrobials

51
Q

Pathogenicity

A

Ability to cause disease (damage the host)

52
Q

Virulence

A

Degree of pathology caused by the organism/infection

53
Q

Infectivity

A

The capacity for transmission/spreading to new hosts

54
Q

Transmissibility

A

Capacity to grow in parts of the body, readily exit an infected host (boy orifices - blood to blood, nasal-nasal sneezing, vectors), survive in transition between hosts (sporulation, environment, arthropod-borne infections)

55
Q

Exogenous

A

Mainly true pathogens (don’t carry with you)

56
Q

Endogenous

A

Opportunistic pathogens and persisten true pathogens e.g. trauma in nasopharynx, opportunistic pathogens could become true pathogens

57
Q

Mucin

A

Mucus - mesh of proteins and polysaccharides which protects many parts of the body

58
Q

Non-proteinaceous toxins

A

Endotoxins - released into bloodstream + cause septic shock, lipopolysaccharide/lipooligosaccharide

59
Q

Proteinaceous toxins

A

Exotoxins - proteolysis, neurological, contraction of things

60
Q

Pus

A

DNA, proteins, dead immune cells (neutrophils), host cells (abscess)

61
Q

Spreading factors

A

Proteins like DNases and proteases that act as ‘meat tenderisers’, facilitate spread into neighbouring tissue

62
Q

Adhesions

A

Mechanism of adhering to host surfaces through specialist attachment proteins (pili/fimbrae)

63
Q

Exotoxins

A

Mainly produced by gram +ive bacteria (gram -ive e.g. E. coli can also produce them), proteins in nature (few are enzymes), rapidly spread from bacteria by filtration, usually thermolabile, can cause cytopathic effects

64
Q

Endotoxins

A

Released after natural autolysis/artifical disruption (freezing, thawing, sonic vibrations), thermostable, integral part of outer layer of bacterial cell walls, gram -ive bacteria, complex phospholipid, toxic shock syndrome

65
Q

Aggressins

A

Contribute to the ability of capsulate or non-capsulate bacteria to invade and multiply in the host’s tissues and enhance the permeability of tissues, facilitating the spread of bacteria

66
Q

Commensals

A

One member of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed
E.g. Commensals of the mucosal surfaces may cause disease if the body defences are compromised due to viral infections (2^y infection) or following trauma, surgical interventions, immunosuppression or other environmental stress

67
Q

Microbiota

A

Microorganisms

68
Q

Microbiome

A

Genes that makeup microbiota

69
Q

Common bacterial skin flora

A

Mainly gram +ive - Staphylococci, Streptococci, Corneybacterium, occasionally also gram -ive - some pathogenic (dermatitis)

70
Q

Microflora of upper respiratory tract

A

Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Haemophilus somnus, Mycoplasma bovis, histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovirhinis

71
Q

Microflora of oral cavity

A

Streptococci, Staphylococci + various anaerobic and aerobic bacteria - Treponemes

72
Q

Microflora of GIT

A

Enterobacteria (E. coli, Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter, Yersinia)
Anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium spp., Bacteriodes spp., Fusobacterium spp.)
Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Enterococci)

73
Q

Microflora of hoof

A

Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteriodesdes melaninogenicus, Dichelobacter nodosus.
Treponema spp., Peptococcus and Campylobacter (Cattle and sheep digital dermatitis)

74
Q

Microflora of ears

A

Ear wax (cerumen prevents flora entering inner ear canal) - Staphylococci, Streptococci, Pseudomonas spp. (not normally part of predominant normal flora of ear, normally associated with infection), bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses and protozoa

75
Q

Bacterial flora of upper ear

A

Mainly gram +ive (Staphylococci, Streptococci)

Sometimes gram -ive (E .coli, Branhamella (Moraxella), Pseudomonas spp. - on skin of ear)

76
Q

Microflora of eye

A

On the conjunctiva - Streptococcus and Staphylococcus

77
Q

Dysbiosis (dysbacteriosis)

A

Microbial imbalance or maladaptation on or inside the body

78
Q

Probiotics

A

Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts (high) confer a health benefit to the host e.g. Lactobacillus (produce lactic acid bacteria), Bifidobacteria (produce butyric acid bacteria), Enterococci.
Act by allowing out-competition of pathogens, producing anti-microbial compounds, altering immune response

79
Q

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)

A

Movement and rearranging DNA in prokaryotes e.g. bacteria, also referred to as lateral gene transfer (LGT)
Requires at least physical movement of DNA and incorporation into the receiving genome so it is stably inherited

80
Q

Mobile genetic elements (MGE)

A

Type of DNA that can move around within and the genome (one organism to another) e.g. transposons (transposable elements - retrotransposons, DNA transposons, insertion sequences); plasmids, bacteriophage, group II introns, group I introns

81
Q

Mobilome

A

Total of all mobile genetic elements in a genome

82
Q

Plasmid

A

Circular piece of self-replicating DNA located outside of the bacterial chromosome. They can carry multiple resistance mechanisms e.g. ESBL (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase), and transfer them via a pilus

83
Q

Pilus

A

Appendage that allows bacteria to adhere to each other and transfer genetic material

84
Q

Phage

A

Virus infecting bacteria

85
Q

Conjugation

A

Two living bacteria come in direct contact - one bacterium transfers its DNA (plasmid) to the other

86
Q

Transformation

A

When a bacterium dies, its DNA is released into the environment where it can be taken up by another living bacteria (free DNA)

87
Q

Transduction

A

A phage takes some DNA from one bacterium and transfers it to another

88
Q

Competence

A

Physiological state, often highly dependent on the environment, which enables bacteria to uptake macromolecules that bind to its surface

89
Q

Antimicrobials

A

Chemicals that either kill or prevent the growth of microbes - bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa

90
Q

Prophylaxis

A

‘Healthy’ individuals to prevent infections where is a perceived risk

91
Q

Metaphylaxis

A

There is a definable hazard

92
Q

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs)

A

Enzymes that can be produced by bacteria making them resistant to cephalosporins e.g. cefuroxime, cefotaxime and ceftazidime, resistance can be carried on a plasmid

93
Q

Innate, natural or intrinsic resistance

A

Vancomycin - gram -ive bacteria and Lactobacilli

94
Q

Mutational resistance

A

Fluoroquinolone resistance (point mutation) - E. coli, Salmonella

95
Q

Extrachromosomal, chromosomal or acquired resistance

A

ESBL resistance - E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella - MRSA, MecA gene (moved from one staphylococcus to another)

96
Q

Phenotypic/persister state

A

Mycobacterium bovis - no genetic basis, organisms can go into dormant state + metabolism slowed right down for survival

97
Q

Physical mechanisms of resistance

A

Biofilms - Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Pseudomonas (wound infection)

98
Q

Efflux pump

A

Antibiotic resistance - extrude AB out of the cell as fast as it can enter

99
Q

Primary active transporters

A

Utilise energy stored in ATP to catalyse transport of drug across the membrane by ATP hydrolysis

100
Q

Secondary active transporters

A

Driven by the energy stored in ion gradients that are in turn generated by respiration, to catalyse the transport of drugs across the membrane

101
Q

Phosphotransferase system (PTS)

A

Catalyses the transport of drug with a concomitant phosphorylation of the drug, usually for cellular entry of the drug substrate

102
Q

Mutant prevention concentration (MPC)

A

The lowest concentration of AB to inhibit the emergence of mutants, if an AB conc is maintained above the MPC, resistant bacteria should not be selected for

VMS2009 General Pathology and Concepts of Infectious Disease (14 decks)

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