Lecture 15 Myobacteria Flashcards
What is the sole genus of Mycobacteriaceae?
Mycobacterium.
“Myco”- fungus or wax
-May refer to the waxy compound s in cell wall or branching/cording behaviors of some members
Where are mycobacterium found in the environment?
Often found in water, soil, foodstuffs. Many are opportunistic pathogens in humans.
What are two obligate parasites?
- mycobacterium tuberculosis (common)
- Mycobacterium Leprae (Rarer)
What is important for determinant of disease presence and severity of diseases caused by mycobacterium?
Host susceptibility.
What are some disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium?
- pulmonary disease similar to TB
- Lymphadenitis
- skin and soft tissue disease
- disseminated disease.
What are some distinguishing characteristics of mycobactrium cell wall/membrane?
- acid fastness: Neither gram negative or positive.
- 60 % of the cell wall is made with mycolic acid (waxy) and LAM
- resistant to drying
- retains stain to well, cannot be destained.
What is acid fast staining?
Also known as Ziehl-Neelsen or kinyou stain)
- Stain with carbol fuchsin
- Decolorize with acid-alcohol
- Counterstain with methylene blue.
Other than being acid fast, what are some other distinguishing characteristics of mycobacterium?
- Slow growing (fastidious)
- Pigments (cartenoids)
- Aerobic
- Generally nonmotile
- Host genetics play important role in susceptibility and manifestations.
What makes mycobacterium difficult to study/Dx?
Difficult to culture in vitro. difficult to manipulate genetically.
What makes mycobacterium difficult to treat?
-slow-growing nature, causing it to be less likely to respond to abx, resistance can be easily developed. Tend to use multiple abx together when treating to make sure resistance is not developed.
Which mycobacterium can move intracellularly?
M. Marinum.
Who discover mycobacterium tuberculosis?
Robert Koch
Is tuberculosis presently a problem?
- Infects 1/3 of all people worldwide.
- Responsible for untold death and illness over history.
- 3 million TB deaths per year worldwide
What were some Forensic evidence of M Tuberculosis?
Fossils dating back beyond 500K years ago show TB infecting Homo Erectus. Found in Neolithic humans 4K years ago. Identified in the spines of mummified Egyptians.
What are some historical accounts of M tuberculosis?
- Hippocrates describes and pthisis consumption.
- Aristotle believed it to be contagious.
- Ibn Sina believed it to be rom a microorganism.
- accelerated in Europe’s industrial revolution.
What areas in the world are hit hard with TB?
-Asia, Africa.
Countries of poverty.
What disease correlates with TB around the world?
-HIV/AIDS is prevalent where TB is because the best defense against TB are T cells. HIV/AIDS infected individual are more susceptible.
What sx occurs in in primary infection?
- often clinically dormant, inactive
- immunocompromised individuals can get disseminated disease
- in normal hosts usually latent.