L21 - A Carmichael - Systemic fungal infections Flashcards
describe infectious diseases
multiply at site of entry (eg lungs) then spread through blood or lymphatics to rest of body - esp in immunocompromised host
2 types of deep fungal infections
picutre
describe systemic pathogens
These are microscopic saprotrophs that live in the environment.
Infection of humans is accidental, and is not required for the maintenance of the fungus in nature.
The consequences of an infection are determined by the strain, infectious dose and resistance of the host.
describe how a human may accidently be infected with histoplasma capsulatum?
e.g. Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus that lives in soil or bat droppings in Mississippi & Ohio valleys; the filamentous mould releases air-borne spores which are inhaled by bats, and sometimes accidentally inhaled by humans who venture into caves.
describe how Histoplasma switches from filamenous mould to budding yeast?
dimorphic
the temperature-sensitive dimorphism regulating kinases DRK1 and RYP1 induce a different pattern of gene expression that equips the yeast for a life of persistent infection within mammalian macrophages.
which arsenal of warm genes does histoplasma equip for mamallian host survival
urface α- 1,3-glucan which is not recognized by host pattenn recognition receptors (= camofluage); fungal hsp60 which binds to CD11/CD18 on the surface of human macrophages; and a secreted protease-resistant calcium binding protein CBP that facilitates fungal growth within macrophage vacuoles.
label histoplasma infection slide
In most people, does Histoplasma infection cause symptoms?
no
in most people how is histoplasma infection controlled?
the persistent intracellular infection of macrophages is controlled by host T cells which activate macrophages leading to the formation of granulomas.
how can you test to see whether someone has had histolpasma before
One can identify a person who has previously been infected with Histoplasma by using a skin test in which dead Histoplasma antigen is injected into the skin where it evokes a delayed-type IV hypersensitivity reaction (skin inflammation) due to the presence of Histoplasma-specific memory CD4+ T cells.
when does histoplasma become a problem?
Histoplasma yeast cells persist for decades in an asymptomatic host under the control of cell-mediated immunity;
if subsequently the host becomes immunocompromised (e.g. because of HIV or immunosuppressive drug treatment following a kidney transplant), the infection can re-activate and multiplying yeasts invade into the surrounding tissues.
outcomes for histoplasmosis disease
whats this?
whats this?
describe systemic oppertunists
- fungi of low intrinsic virulence
- cause disease in only a minority of individuals whose defences are compromised
- high density of organisms
- relative lack of host inflammatory response
- prolonged anti-fungal treatment is often needed to eradicate the infection
- it is important to restore the impaired host defence e.g. by stopping immunosuppressant drugs or by treating HIV with anti-HIV drugs
T or F
When a person develops a systemic opportunistic fungal infection, in addition to treating the infection with anti-fungal drugs, it is essential to identify and if possible correct the underlying host defect (e.g. in AIDS, by starting anti-HIV treatment).
T
readddddd
give 4 systemic oppertunists
Candida albicans
Pneumocystis jiroveci
Cryptococcus neoformans
Aspergillus fumigatus
Candida albicans is a _______ yeast on moist mucosal surfaces,
Candida albicans is a commensal yeast on moist mucosal surfaces,
what usually restrains candida albicans>
by host defences and competition with bacterial flora.
Candida albicans – a budding yeast
which can form ______ when it invades tissue
Candida albicans – a budding yeast
which can form pseudo-hyphae when it invades tissue
whast this
candida albicans
describe biofilm formation
large structured communities of organisms
embedded in a sticky extracellular matrix
on a solid/liquid interface (e.g. the surface of a plastic cannula)
does candida albicans secrete a toxin?
yep
what toxin does candida albicans secrete?
Candidalysin: secreted 31 amino acid peptide toxin which damages epithelial cells, important for virulence in animal models of mucosal Candida infection
whats this
Superficial Candida albicans infection
whats this?
Candida endophthalmitis (white spots in retina and vitreous)
treatmenst for candida albicans