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MICRB 265 > Microbial Pathogenesis > Flashcards

Microbial Pathogenesis Flashcards

1
Q

What is microbial pathogenesis?

A

The study of how pathogens infect and cause disease, including interactions with the immune system and virulence factors.

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2
Q

What are pathogens?

A

Organisms that cause disease.

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3
Q

True or False: All microbes are pathogenic.

A

False

The vast majority of microbes have neutral or beneficial interactions with humans.

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4
Q

What is pathogenesis?

A

The mechanism that leads to disease.

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5
Q

Define virulence.

A

A term often used to describe the severity of disease caused by a pathogen.

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6
Q

What is an opportunistic pathogen?

A

An organism that is often non-pathogenic but becomes a pathogen under certain circumstances.

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7
Q

What are phytopathogens?

A

Microbial pathogens that affect plants.

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8
Q

What is an example of a bacterial phytopathogen?

A

Erwinia amylovora, which causes fire blight in apple and pear trees.

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9
Q

What fungal pathogen caused the Gros Michel banana to go extinct?

A

Fusarium oxysporum.

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10
Q

What is infection?

A

The invasion of the body by a disease-causing organism.

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11
Q

What is the difference between infection and disease?

A

Infection refers to the presence of a pathogen, while disease is damage or injury to the host organism with overt symptoms.

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12
Q

What is inflammation?

A

The body’s immune response to infection or injury.

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13
Q

What role does the immune system play in microbial infections?

A

It prevents and clears microbial infections.

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14
Q

Fill in the blank: The ability of a pathogen to enter host cells and/or tissues is called _______.

A

Invasion.

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15
Q

What are common stages of infections?

A
  • Adherence
  • Colonization
  • Invasion
  • Spread
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16
Q

What are virulence factors?

A

Molecules (typically proteins) produced by a pathogen that contribute to its ability to cause disease.

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17
Q

What is the function of adherence factors?

A

They help microbes bind to specific host cells/tissues to establish infection.

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18
Q

What is a major consequence of excessive inflammation?

A

It can lead to effects ranging from mild to life-threatening.

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19
Q

True or False: All symptoms of bacterial diseases come from the pathogen’s activities.

A

False

Some symptoms are caused by the immune response to the pathogen.

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20
Q

What is the role of secreted enzymes in virulence?

A

They can free up nutrients, damage host cells, and disrupt barriers to enable pathogen invasion/spread.

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21
Q

What is a Type III secretion system (T3SS)?

A

A mechanism used by some pathogens to inject specific effector proteins into host cells.

22
Q

What disease is caused by S. Typhi?

A

Typhoid fever.

23
Q

What are siderophores?

A

Secreted molecules that capture iron from the environment to aid in nutrient acquisition by pathogens.

24
Q

What is an example of a pathogen that produces a capsule?

A

Streptococcus pneumoniae.

25
Q

What is the significance of mucous membranes in microbial infections?

A

They are protective layers that line body access points and are common sites where infections are initiated.

26
Q

What are exotoxins?

A

Secreted protein toxins that are important virulence factors.

27
Q

What is the primary role of exotoxins in bacterial pathogens?

A

They target host cells and contribute to the virulence of the bacteria.

28
Q

True or False: All bacterial pathogens produce toxins.

A

False

29
Q

What is an example of a bacterial toxin?

A

⍺-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus.

30
Q

How does ⍺-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus affect host cells?

A

It polymerizes in the host cell membrane to form a pore, causing effects like cell lysis.

31
Q

What are AB-type toxins?

A

Toxins that consist of an A subunit, which exerts a biological effect, and B subunit(s), which bind to host cell receptors.

32
Q

Fill in the blank: The A subunit of AB-type toxins typically modifies or degrades a specific _______.

A

host cell protein.

33
Q

What is an example of an AB-type toxin?

A

Botulinum toxin.

34
Q

Which bacterium produces botulinum toxin?

A

Clostridium botulinum.

35
Q

What is the effect of botulinum toxin on the human body?

A

It cleaves specific SNARE proteins required for the release of acetylcholine, leading to muscle paralysis.

36
Q

What is the lethality of botulinum toxin?

A

0.1 μg of toxin is enough to kill.

37
Q

What role do toxins play in disease and therapeutics?

A

They are key in virulence and can be targeted for treatments and vaccines.

38
Q

What is a toxoid?

A

An inactivated toxin used as a vaccine.

39
Q

True or False: Toxins can be used to treat non-bacterial diseases.

A

True

40
Q

What is Botox an example of?

A

The therapeutic use of botulinum toxin.

41
Q

What is the causative agent of the plague?

A

Yersinia pestis.

42
Q

What type of organism is Yersinia pestis?

A

A Gram-negative Proteobacterium.

43
Q

Which animals primarily host Yersinia pestis?

A

Rodents.

44
Q

How is Yersinia pestis primarily spread?

A

By fleas that bite rodents and can also bite humans.

45
Q

What was the most severe pandemic caused by the plague?

A

The Black Death.

46
Q

What are the three forms of plague caused by Yersinia pestis?

A
  • Bubonic plague
  • Pneumonic plague
  • Septicemic plague
47
Q

Which form of plague is the most common?

A

Bubonic plague.

48
Q

What is the mortality rate of untreated pneumonic and septicemic plague?

A

Approximately 100%.

49
Q

How did Yersinia pestis evolve?

A

Evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis within the last 5,000-10,000 years.

50
Q

What is a significant virulence factor of Yersinia pestis?

A

The F1 capsule, which inhibits uptake by the immune system.

51
Q

What role does the T3SS play in Yersinia pestis virulence?

A

It secretes effector proteins that disrupt immune system function.

52
Q

What is the significance of gene loss in Yersinia pestis?

A

Loss of the flagellum contributes to stealth and evasion of the immune system.

MICRB 265 (33 decks)

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