Micro final Flashcards
Describe the biological properties of fungi important for growth in humans and that act as barriers to treatment
1) Eukaryotic - cellular machinery is functionally interchangeable with human cells
2) Thick rigid cell walls - inhibits phagocytosis, drugs from reaching cytoplasm –> human immune defense is via phagocytes i.e. neutrophils –> neutropenic patients susceptible to fungal infections; cell wall contains mannan (human mannose-binding protein sets off complement)
3) Saprophytes - secrete enzymes that break down organic matter and transport back into cell
4) Immunogens - source of allergies
Fungi are not part of normal flora, but infections are not contagious
Describe the fungal life cycles in terms of perfect and imperfect states
- Imperfect state
Vegetative haploid cells divide via mitosis and produce conidia (asexual spores) –> germinate to produce more haploid vegetative cells - Perfect state
Two haploid cells (of different mating types) fuse to form diploid cell –> undergoes meiosis and produces haploid sexual spores –> germinate to form vegetative haploid cells rarely takes place in mammalian cells/clinical samples
Sexual structures important for classification but not identification of pathogens
Describe the classification of fungi and the four major groups:
1) Zygomycetes
2) Ascomycetes
3) Basidiomycetes
4) Fungi imperfecti
Classification based on structures in which meiosis occurs - requires starvation in order for meiosis to happen; mycoses = fungi that cause diseases in humans
1) Zygomycetes: sporangium contains many haploid spores formed by meiosis; pathogenic strains include Rhizopus and mucor
2) Ascomycetes: single cells undergo meiosis – 4 meiotic spores in ascus sac; strains include bread, brewing yeast
3) Basidiomycetes: diploid nuclei in basidium (club-shaped structure) undergo meiosis, haploid spores bud in chains from the top of the; pathogenic strains include Cryptococcus neoformans (heavily encapsulated - causes lung or brain opportunistic infections, diagnose via bronchopulmonary washings, latex agglutination, silver stain, or india ink test)
4) Fungi imperfecti: no meiotic stage known –> Asexual; can have imperfect form of a fungus
How do you ID fungi via culture, colony color, and staining?
1) Culture: non-fastidious Saboraud agar, incubate at 30C (below body temp) and for 30 days since they grow slowly
2) Colony color: pigmented = dematiciaceous vs colorless = hyaline; dark pigment aids virulence
3) Staining: drop of KOH, calcoflour white staining, and silver staining
Serological tests available, but ID depends heavily on morphology
Describe the following fungi growth forms:
1) Yeast
2) Mold
3) Pseudohyphae
4) Chlamydospores
5) Conidia - micro and macro
6) Arthroconidia
7) Phialoconidia
1) Yeast: unicellular, reproduce by budding; colonies are moist or creamy
2) Mold: form elongated filaments called hyphae –> multiple hyphae = mycelium; colonies are fuzzy or powdery; dimorphic forms grow as yeast in rich medium at 37C but as hyphae in poor medium at 30C
3) Pseudohyphae: yeast buds that elongate but do not fully separate
4) Chlamydospores: terminal cell of a hypha differentiates into large, round, thick-walled cell
5) Conidia: asexual spores that bud off hypha, which have septa (cross-walls); micro contain only single cell, macro contain multiple cells
6) Arthroconidia: hyphae break apart at septa so there are only alternate cells
7) Phialoconidia: chains of conidia bud from the tip of a specialized terminal cell of hyphae e.g. penicillium
Describe the type of fungal infections including types of pathogens involved:
1) Superficial
2) Cutaneous
3) Subcutaneous
1) Superficial: outermost layer of skin, nails, and hair without invasion of deeper tissue; produced by fungi of low virulence; ID via hair samples under Wood’s IV lamp
Example: piedra - hyphae grow in hair shaft
2) Cutaneous: involve only skin –> lesion with central healing and inflamed rim of active infection, caused by dermatophytes from soil, animals, or humans; infections are called tinea e.g. tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
3) Subcutaneous: fungi introduced by local trauma (thorns, splinters, falls); form localized lesions or mycetoma/”fungus tumor” (mass of fungi surrounded by granulomatous inflammation); can look similar to Gram + actinomyces infection
Example: Sporothrix schenckii (dimorphic fungus found on plants)–> causes sporotrichosis with subcutaneous lesions along lymphatics from initial trauma site
For the 4th type of fungal infection (Systemic) - describe common features, diagnosis, and treatment
Common features:
- endemic to specific areas
- can infect immunocompetents but associated with immunocompromised
- infection initially in lung
- occupational exposure
- little human transmission
- asymptomatic infections
- dimorphic - yeast at 37C in tissue, hyphae in culture at 30C “mold in cold, yeast in heat”
Diagnosis:
- microscopy to look at morphology
- skin testing
- exoantigen test - react soluble antigens from reference and patient isolates with specific antisera (either urine or serum rapid antigen tests)
- serologically via Ab titers (IgM for recent infection)
Treatment:
- treat local infection with -conazoles
- treat systemic/disseminated infection with amphotericin B
For the 4th type of fungal infection (Systemic) -describe details of the four types incl morphology, geographical distribution, and clinical symptoms:
1) Histoplasma capsulatum
2) Blastomyces dermatitidis
3) Coccidiodes immitis
4) Paracoccidiodes braziliensis
In order of increasing size
1) Histoplasma capsulatum - manifests as intracellular yeast in clinical material, tuberculate conidia (asexual spores) in culture; spread via bats, endemic in midwest and central US, can lead to hepatosplenomegaly
2) Blastomyces dermatitidis - large yeast with broad-based buds; emulsify tissue sample with KOH to destroy everything except fungal cell walls; endemic in wet places e.g. Great Lakes, can affect skin + bones
3) Coccidiodes immitis - manifests as large spherules in lung tissue, arthroconidia (long chain) morphology in culture; endemic in southwestern US, can cause acute pneumonia or disseminate to skin, lungs, meninges
4) Paracoccidiodes braziliensis - yeast with multiple buds radiating from central vacuole –> “ship’s wheel”; endemic in South America, can cause mucocutaneous lesions
Describe Candida albicans in terms of morphology and infections caused
Candida albicans - causes majority of opportunistic fungal infections
- Morphology
- dimorphic but not typical “mold in cold” –> forms pseudohypha/budding yeast at 20C, germ tubes/hyphae mold at 37C or when placed in serum - Part of normal flora but can cause:
- vaginal infections with changes in flora (pregnancy, diabetes, antibiotics or birth control use) –> but does not change vaginal pH from ~4
- thrush (oral candidiasis - white fungal patches that can be scraped off) in immunosuppressed or oral steroid users
- candidal esophagitis in AIDS patients (CD4 ~ 100)
- diaper rash in infants
Treatment:
- local infections with -zoles
- nystatin for oral/esophageal candidiasis
- amphotericin B for systemic infections; capsofungin if amphotericin-resistant
Describe the following types of opportunistic fungal pathogens:
1) Aspergillus
2) Zygomyces/mucormycosis
3) Pneumocystis jiroveci
4) Microsporidia
1) Aspergillus: ubiquitous in soil/plants, esp affects neutropenic patients; Clinical: ABPA (type I hypersensitivity), aspergillomas in lung, angioinvasive aspergillosis (systemic w ring enhancing brain lesions, renal failure, endocarditis –> can be fatal); hyphae septated and branch at acute angles; transmitted via inhaled conidiophores
2) Zygomyces e.g. mucor, rhizopus classes –> cause mucormycosis: nasopharyngeal but can be fatal if it penetrates cribriform plate and spreads to the brain; hyphae branch at right angles; transmitted via inhalation of spores; increased susceptibility in diabetics esp DKA
3) Pneumocystis jirovecii: ubiquitous yeast, we all develop Ab in childhood but are asymptomatic in healthy people; common coinfection of AIDS when CD4 less than 200 –> causes PCP (pneumocystic pneumonia) and ground-glass lung appearance but mortality lowered due to AIDS prophylaxis with Bactrim (TMP-SMX); cannot be cultured in lab
4) Microsporidia: transmission via contaminated food/water; spore is infectious form –> eye, GI, systemic infections; AIDS coinfection
Amphotericin B [membrane disrupting antifungal]
1) Structure
2) MOA
3) Clinical uses
4) Resistance
5) Administration/PKA
6) Adverse effects
Amphotericin B [membrane disrupting antifungal]
`1) Structure - macrolide with amphipathic ring, similar to nystatin
2) MOA - nonpolar side binds ergosterol in fungal cell membrane by binding to mycosamine sugar unit, polar side forms pore for ions to leak out –> kills cells
3) Clinical uses - broad anti-fungal spectrum e.g. yeast (candida albicans, cryptococcans neoformans), pathogenic molds; used as initial treatment in critical cases e.g. systemic infections
4) Resistance - no significant problems clinically but include decreased/modified ergosterol (found only in fungi/protozoa)
5) Administration/PKA- insoluble in water, prepared with lipid; limited oral use bc poorly absorbed; widely distributed (except CSF) and excreted slowly
6) Adverse effects - infusion-related toxicity, renal damage; interacts with nephrotoxic drugs (cyclosporine, aminoglycosides)
Flucytosine [nucleic acid inhibitor anti-fungal]
1) Structure
2) MOA
3) Clinical uses
4) Resistance
5) Administration/PKA
6) Adverse effects
Flucytosine [nucleic acid inhibitor]
1) Structure - prodrug 5-FC, taken up fungal cytosine permease
2) MOA - cytosine deaminase (found only in fungal cells) converts to 5-FU –> 5-FUTP (inhibits RNA synthesis) or 5-FdUMP (inhibits DNA synthesis)
3) Clinical uses- limited spectrum - Candida and cryptococcus, given in combo therapy with amphotericin B or itraconazole
4) Resistance - loss of conversion from prodrug 5-FC to active form
5) Administration/PKA - rapidly absorbed from GI and cleared by kidney, well distributed (incl CSF)
6) Adverse effects - leukopenia/thrombocytopenia, rash/GI effects due to conversion to toxic materials by intestinal bacteria
Azoles [membrane disrupting antifungal]
1) Classification - imidazole vs triazole + examples
2) MOA
3) Selectivity
4) Resistance
Azoles
1) Imidazoles contain 2 Nitrogens in 5 membered rings e.g. ketoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole; older, have been replaced by triazoles
Triazoles contain 3 Ns in 4 membered rings e.g. itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole
2) MOA - inhibit p450 enzyme ERG11 by binding to active site–> block ergosterol biosynthesis + accumulation of toxic methylsterol byproduct that inhibits membrane enzymes
3) Selectivity - binds less effectively to mammalian p450 enzymes
4) Resistance - ERG11 mutation or increased ERG11
For Itraconazole
1) Clinical use
2) Administration
3) Metabolism
4) Toxicity
5) Drug interactions
Itraconazole - most potent azole
1) Clinical use - favored over ketoconazole (imidazole) bc wide spectrum of action and fewer side effects
2) Administration - oral bc well absorbed, widely distributed (except CSF)
3) Metabolism - lipid soluble, metabolized via CYP3A4, long half life
4) Toxicity - minor toxicity incl GI distress, teratogenic
5) Drug interactions - drugs that decrease gastric activity (H2 blockers, PPIs) and drugs metabolized by p450 enzymes (cyclosporine, warfarin)
* Fluconazole is good alternative to intraconazole, no problem with gastric acidity
Echinocandins [Cell wall inhibitor anti-fungal]
1) Structure
2) MOA
3) Clinical uses
4) Resistance
5) Administration/PKA
6) Adverse effects
Echinocandins [Cell wall inhibitor anti-fungal] - newest anti-fungal agents
1) Structure - semi-synthetic lipopeptide derivative; cyclic peptide attached to long FA chain
2) MOA - inhibits FKS1 enzyme responsible for synthesizing key component of cell wall - beta 1,3 glucan
3) Clinical uses - candida, invasive aspergillosis that fails amphotericin B
4) Resistance - mutation in FKS1
5) Administration/PKA - administered parenterally
6) Adverse effects - minor including fever, nausea, vomiting
Terbinafine [systemic drug]
1) Structure
2) MOA
3) Clinical uses
4) Resistance
5) Administration/PKA
6) Adverse effects
Terbinafine [systemic drug]
1) Structure - synthetic allylamine
2) MOA - inhibits squalene epoxidase ERG1 enzyme –> blocks ergosterol biosynthesis + toxic accumulation of sterol squalene
3) Clinical uses - mucocutaneous infections e.g. dermatophyte-caused tinea; accumulates in skin, nails, fat to prevent infections
4) Resistance - N/A
5) Administration/PKA - topical, use continuously until infection cleared; synergistic with triazoles
6) Adverse effects - GI distress and headache, no drug interactions
Nystatin [topical]
1) Structure
2) MOA
3) Clinical uses
4) Administration/PKA
Nystatin [topical]
1) Structure - derivative of amphotericin - macrolide with amphipathic ring
2) MOA - binds selectively to ergosterol in fungal membrane –> forms pores to cause leakage of ions –> cell death
3) Clinical uses - local suppression of candida infections –> oral/esophageal candidiasis
4) Administration/PKA - creams and ointments
What are protozoa? Define: 1. Trophozoite 2. Cyst 3. Definitive vs intermediate host
Protozoa = unicellular eukaryotic organisms; parasitic species found in intestines, blood, tissues
- Trophozoite: A growing/multiplying form of a parasitic protozoan.
- Cyst: A non-growing form, specialized for resistance to unfavorable environments and/or for dispersal
- Definite host - parasite undergoes sexual cycle vs intermediate - parasite multiplies asexually
How are parasitic infections diagnosed?
Microscopic examination is key, culture not commonly used (expensive + laborious)
- direct smears of blood, stool, tissues
- tissue histology
- can also use serological tests or DNA tests (nucleic acid amplification)
Describe the MOA of common anti-protozoal drugs
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Eflornithine (Ornidyl)
- Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
- Tinidazole
drugs are often toxic
- Metronidazole: Inhibit DNA synthesis
- Eflornithine: inhibit ornithine decarboxylase of
polyamine biosynthesis - Hydroxychloroquine: inhibit DNA synthesis
- Tinidazole: contain nitro group which is reduced to free nitro radical
Giardia lamblia [Flagellate]
- Disease
- Life cycle
- Epi
- Morphology
- Treatment/prevention
Giardia lamblia [Flagellate] - backpacker’s diarrhea
- Disease: organisms adhere to brush border (but do not invade) –> impaired absorptive capacity of intestine –> acute, foul-smelling steatorrhea and watery diarrhea (chronic in AIDS patient)
- Life cycle: ingested as cyst, differentiates into trophozoite and multiplies in intestinal lumen and cells shed in feces; can grow in all mammals, life cycle alternates bw trophozoite and infectious cyst
- Epi: fecal-oral spread through cysts in contaminated water; widespread in lakes/streams in wilderness US
- Morphology: two nuclei and “sucker disc” on trophozoite form (which is how they adhere to intestinal mucosa)
- Treatment/prevention: Treat with metronidazole orally; prevent by boiling, iodine, filtering water
Trichomonas vaginalis [Flagellate]
- Disease
- Life cycle
- Epi
- Morphology
- Treatment/prevention
Trichomonas vaginalis [Flagellate] - STD
- Disease: Trichomoniasis - (women) vaginitis with yellow-green watery discharge or cervicitis “strawberry cervix”, (men) urethritis but can ascend to prostate/seminal vesicles
- Life cycle: multiplies on GI mucosal membrane; diagnose via motile trophozoites on wet mounts
- Epi: sexually transmitted, more common in women than men; vaginal infections cause pH greater than 4.5
- Morphology: tufts of flagella at one end and undulating membrane; non-pathogenic version is part of normal flora
- Treatment/prevention: metronidazole or tinidazole, also treat sexual partners
For hemoflagellates:
- Transmission
- Difference trypanosoma and leishmania species
- Morphology
Hemoflagellates: parasitiz protozoa that lives in the blood
1. Transmission: insect vectors, multiple in vectors and host
- Trypanosoma multiply outside cells –> blood infections; antigenic phase variation due to variable surface glycoprotein (VSG)
Leishmania multiple in cells –> tissue infections - Morphology: You don’t want a hemoflagellate as A PET
A. Amastigote: central nucleus and kinetoplast (combo mt + basal body), no flagella; intracellular form
P. Promastigote: anterior kinetoplast, flagellum
E. Epimastigote: central kinetoplast, flagellum + undulating membrane
T. Trypomastigote: posterior kinetoplast, fully undulating membrane + flagellum
Trypanosoma brucei [hemoflagellate]
- Subspecies
1. Disease
2. Life cycle
3. Epi
4. Treatment/prevention
Trypanosoma brucei
*Subspecies:
T. b. brucei - livestock disease; East Africa
T. b. rhodesiense - rapidly progressive in humans; East Africa
T. b. gambesiense - slowly progressive in humans; West Africa
- Disease: African sleeping sickness w/ 3 stages:
A. Localized inflammatory lesion
B. Acute - disease in bloodstream, chronic inflammation (fever, headache, muscle pain), travels to lymph –> lymphadenopathy
C. Late stage - CNS invasion (stupor, coma, death) - Life cycle: epimastigotes multiple in guts and salivary glands of tsetse fly –> fly bite –> trypomastigotes multiply in bloodstream of mammals and are seen in blood smear
- Epi: vector = tsetse fly; evade immune system through VSG antigenic phase variation –> increased IgM bc of repeated primary immune response
- Treatment/Prevention: (Early) Treat with pentamidine (late) treat with eflornithine nifurtimox; prevent with control of tsetse flies