Lesson 3.8 - Chlamydia Flashcards
Characteristics of Chlamydia
[Size, Cell wall, etc.]
- Obligate intracellular parasite
- 0.3 um (elementary body)
- Cell wall
- Outer membrane, inner cytoplasmic membrane
- Cysteine-rich outer membrane proteins
- Lacks peptidoglycan
Chlamydia is sensitive to what?
Penicillin; peculiar b/c it lacks peptidoglycan
Gene Characteristics of Chlamydia
- 1,073
- Small # consistent with being obligate parasite
- Has genes for glycolysis & pentose phosphate pathway
- Dependent on host for ATP
Can Chlamydia grow on liquid or agar media?
- Nope.
- Studied using human tissue culture cells & animal models
Life cycle of Chlamydia
- Alternates b/t non-replicating infectious elementary body (EB) and replicating non-infectious reticulate body (RB)
How does the EB attach to a host cell?
Abrasion or laceration in conjunctiva or mucous membrane
Chlamydia prevents formation of a ___________
phagolysosome
How big are elementary bodies?
0.2-0.4 um
How big are reticulate bodies?
0.6 - 1.5 um
What is the causal agent of Chlamydia?
Chlamydia trachomatis (most common bacterial STD)
___ of infected women and ____ of infected men report no symptoms of chlamydia
2/3, 1/2
Symptoms of Chlamydia [Men and Women]
- May take 3 weeks to appear
- Coinfections common w/ gonorrhea
- Men:
- Discharge from penis, burning sensation when peeing
- Spreads to epididymis
- Women:
- Vaginal discharge, burning sensatiom when peeing
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pain
- Men:
What does trachoma mean?
rough
Can a newborn contract chlamydia?
- Yes, during vaginal birth
- Lead to pneumonia & newborn eye infections
Chlamydia initially infects the ____ and the _____.
-
cervix, urethra
- Spreads to fallopian tubes, uterus, & rectum