Lecture 19 - Streptococcus Flashcards
How do symptoms get caused by a microorganism?
Virulence factors can directly damage cells
Host immune response to virulence factors can lead to host cell damage
Describe the appearance of streptococci in terms of:
-Gram stain
-Shape
-Arrangement
Gram positive cocci in chains
How are different Streptococci classified?
By the degree of Haemolysis they do
What is Haemolysis?
The break down of Red Blood cells
Why do streptococcus bacteria benefit from doing haemolysis?
How does this affect their virulence?
The more able they are to do haemolysis the more easily they can break down the RBC and obtain their iron
This makes thee bacteria more able to replicate and produce virulence factors
More ability to do haemolysis = more virulent
What are the 3 broad groups of Streptococci based on their ability to do haemolysis?
Alpha haemolysis (viridans streptococci) = partial haemolysis
Beta haemolysis (complete/full haemolysis)
Non-haemolytic
What is an example of an Alpha haemolysis classified streptococci (viridans streptococci)?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What is an example of a streptococci that is classified as a Beta Haemolytic organism?
How does this organism show on a blood agar?
Streptococcus pyogenes
Halo around the colony due to full break down of the red blood cells
What is an example of a streptococcus organism classified as non-haemolytic?
What does this mean in terms of its virulence?
Enterococcus faecalis
Have a lower virulence since they have a less ability to obtain iron
What is being tested for in serological classification of bacteria?
Antibodies and antigens
What is the most virulent streptococcus species?
Streptococcus pyogenes
What are 3 species of Streptococcus in the Beta haemolytic group? (Full haemolysis)
Streptococcus pyogenes
Strep agalactiae
Strep dysgalactiae
Where are Strep bovis, Strep mutans and strep salivarius commonly found?
What disease are they commonly associated with?
In the mouth
Endocarditis
What lancefield group is streptococcus pyogenes?
Group A Beta Haemolytic streptococcus
What are the 4 groups by which streptococci are classified in based on their physiological properties?
Pyogenic
Viridans
Enterococcal
Lactic
What is meant by streptococci being Pyogenic?
Pus forming
What is meant by streptococci being viridans?
Don’t fall into the other categories
What is meant by streptococci being enterococcal?
Are bile tolerant
Penicillin resistant
Gut dwelling (faecal sources)