Lecture 21 - Respiratory Tract Infections 2 Flashcards
What are some of the things have we learnt from Pneumococcus?
- Gram stain
- opsonisation
- bacterial serotypes
- polysaccharide antigens (capsule)
- role of DNA
- protein virulence determinants
- vaccination
What are the antibodies to pneumococcus directed against?
The capsule
What is opsonisation?
Covering of the bacteria with immunoglobulins and complement
What was the first protein virulence determinant studied?
Pneumolysin
Describe the first demonstration of transformation
Live unencapsulated pneumococci (serotype 2) given to mouse –> no disease
Killed encapsulated pneumococci –> no disease
Live unencapsulated and killed encapsulated –> death
The live unencapsulated bacteria changed their phenotype by picking up DNA from the encapsulated bacteria
When was transformation first demonstrated?
In 1923 by Griffith
Describe the features of Optochin
What is it used for?
1911: effective in mice
1912: resistance emerges
1912: toxin in humans
Only used for detecting of pneumococci
Not used as antibiotic in humans
What are sulphonamides?
Describe the evolution
Antimicrobial
1938: efficacy shown
1943: emergence of resistance
What are the antimicrobials used against pneumococci?
Optochin
Sulphonamides
Penicillin G
Who discovered penicillin?
Alexander Fleming
What does multiple resistance mean?
The strain is resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents
What has happened with resistance to antimicrobial agents over the years?
More and more quickly, the bacteria are becoming resistant to the agents
What is the mechanism of action of penicillin G?
Targets Transpeptidase
Binds to this enzyme more strongly than the natural substrate
Prevents cross linking of peptidoglycan bricks
The cell wall can’t form
What are beta-lactams?
Antimicrobials such as penicillin g
What are penicillin binding proteins?
Transpeptidases