Lecture 4/5 - Microbial Genetics Flashcards
What is an immunogen?
Any antigen that can elicit an immune response
What is an epitope?
Part of the antigen that binds to the antigen receptors
Where do mutation occur in surface Ag’s of a pathogen?
Within the nucleic acids – DNA/RNA
What is the results of the a mutation within the surface antigens of a pathogen?
Change in the structural proteins
– or –
Enzymes responsible for it’s assembly
What is the direct impact of genetic mutations in a pathogen?
Host immune response
Where is the H antigen found?
Flagella
Where is the O antigen found?
LPS
What are three methods to which antigenic mutations occur?
Drift + Shift + Switching
What are the two subtypes of antigenic switching?
Phase variation
– and –
Gene conversion
What can undergo antigenic shift?
Bacteria + Viruses
What can undergo antigenic shift?
Viruses
What can undergo antigenic switching?
Bacteria + Protozoa + Fungi
What is the process of antigenic drift?
Overtime population accumulates point mutations.
Leads to proteins products being altered causing distinct new strains of the bacteria
Where does antigenic drift tend to occur on a flu virus?
H antigen
What are the two components of the flu virus envelope spikes?
Hemaglutttinin
– and –
Neuraminidase
What is hemagluttinin?
Glycoprotein spike which attaches to the host receptors
What is neuraminidase?
Enzyme on the glycoprotein spike that releases from virus from the host cell
What is the structure of the flu viruses genome?
8 segments of ssRNA
What is the example of antigenic shift seen in the flu virus, that is given in lecture?
Two different strains (ie. human + birds), populate the same cell and undergo reassortment. this creates a whole new subtype of flu virus.
What is so dangerous about antigenic shift in the flu virus?
Can easily cause a pandemic because no species has been exposed to it. therefore no one has built immunity, leading to quicker spread of the virus.
Which genomic mutation is responsible for why we need yearly flu vaccines?
Antigenic drift
What genomic mutation is responsible for why there are flu pandemics in the world?
Antigenic shift
What are two important things that a successful pathogen must do?
Multiply in host
– and –
Evade the immune system
What is the mechanism of phase variation, a type of antigenic switching?
The gene is always apart of the cell genes but not always apart of the phenotype, but it is turned on and off depending on the current environment
What does phase variation lead to?
Phenotypic variation and therefore surface antigen variation. Go from having no flagella to having one
How is phase variation regulated?
Inversion of DNA sequence via recombinase
What are the two important components of a bacterial gene?
Promoter + Coding sequence
What is another name for gene conversion, a method of antigenic switching?
Gene shuffling
What is the mechanism of gene conversion?
Recombination within a specific group of genes. The phenotype is always there but the bacteria can switch through types, like changing a shirt. Biological function remains the same
What pathogen causes relapsing fever?
Borrelia recurrenntis
Why does relapsing fever occur?
Gene conversion; switches through serotypes causing the immune system to stop being able to recognize it.
What is responsible for malaria?
Plasmodium falciparum
What method is used by malaria to evade the immune system?
Variable surface glycoproteins aka VSG; does this by avoiding splenic destruction by attaching to endothelium
What are mobile genetic elements?
Segments of DNA that encode for enzymes/proteins that mediate movement of DNA within the genome or between cells
What are the two groups of MGE?
Replicons
– and –
No replicons
What is the basic method of the replicon?
Replicate DNA/RNA independently of host cell chromosome
What is the basic method of cells that are not replicons?
Replicate DNA/RNA as part of cell chromosome or plasmid DNA
What is different about a bacteriophage compared to a plasmid genetically?
RNA + DNA (plasmids are DNA only)
What do plasmids tend to carry?
Non-essential genetic information
What do plasmids allow for in a bacteria?
Selective advantage, especially when an AB is present
What are R plasmids?
Resistance plasmids, carry 1+ genes for AB resistance
What is special about R plasmids?
They are not genera specific and can be shared amongst any bacteria for the most part
What are bacteriophages?
Bacteria viruses
What do bacteriophages do?
Inject DNA into bacteria and use the host machinery to copy it’s DNA. Then use the lytic or lysogenic cycle to break out of the bacteria
Can bacteriophages move amongst genera?
No, they are genera specific.
What are the three mechanisms that bacteria user to exchange DNA among bacteria?
Transformation - Conjugation - Transduction
In general, what is transformation in regards to genetic exchange?
Incorporation of exogenous (aka naked DNA) into cytoplasm (via plasmid) or chromosome
In general, what is conjugation?
Mating leading to exchange of genetic information from one bacterium to another
In general, what is transduction?
Transfer of bacterial DNA from one bacterium to another via bacteriophage
How is naked DNA, from transformation, incoporated into the genome of the receiving bacteria?
Homologous recombination + Nonhomologous recombination
When does invitro competence normally develop in bacteria?
During the log phase of cell culture