Microbial pathogens 2 Flashcards
Cryptosporidium parvum and hominis
-in humans and animals
-only reproduce in humans
-dirty nappies
-waterbourne pathogens
-cause cryptosporidiosis
-diarrhoea a d flu-like symptoms
Cryptosporidiosis intro
-quite serious and potentially threatening in immunodeficient patients (AIDs)
-characterised hy a profuse watery diarrhoea
-second leading cause of diarrhoea in young children and a major contributor for diarrheal deaths in LMICs
-community outbreaks can occur
cryptosporidium life cycle
-one host required
-for c hominis host is human
-for c parvum it is human or animal (cattle)
transmission routes
-swallowing water or beverages contaminated by stool from infected humans or animals
-swallowing recretional water contaminated
-eating contaminated uncooked food
-touching mouth with contaminated hands
risk factors of Cryptosporidiosis
-small size oocysts
-wide range of host specificity
-monoxenous development (only 1 host)
-close associations between human and animal hosts
-large number of oocysts excreted
-low infective dose
-robust oocysts which are resistant to chlorine
-complex protective barrier consisting of a double layer of a protein- lipid carbohydrate matrix
occupationally acquired Cryptosporidiosis
-workers in sewage and waste water
-workers in outdoor leisure industries in contact with water
-farmers
-abbattoir workers, meta processing plant workers and butchers
-vet surgeons
-healthcare and care workers
-construction/demolition/building renovation workers
Cryptosporidiosis disease presentatiob
-symptoms start 2-10 days after infection
-some are asymptomatic
-in immuno-competent people the main symptom watery diarrhoea for 1-2 weeks
-stomach cramps or pain
-nausea and vomiting
-weight loss, dehydration and fever
Cryptosporidiosis children under 5
especially where malnoruished
-even a single episode of cryptosporidiosis can result in growth deficits lomg term
Cryptosporidiosis case study immunosuppressed patient
-65 year old man with 6 month diarrhoea syndrome co-infected with HIv
-mucosa of colon and rectum presented wth hyperplasia in clusters
-biopsies showed intestinal crytosporidiosis
-can cause severe chronic and cholera-like diarrhoea
-long periods of time
hyperplasia
increased cell production
cause of disease symptoms
-exact mechanism still unclear
-invasion of parasites in gut epithelial trigger disease and malaborption of nutrients
cryptosporidiosis diagnosis
-microscopic examination of stool samples for presence of oocysts
-immunoassay
-molecular methods PCR, real time PCR
Cryptosporidiosis treatment
-since it is a self-limiting illness in immuno-comprimised ->supportive care is only treatment
-oral or intravenous rehydration and replacement of electrolytes may be necessary for particularly voluminous watery diarrhoea
-nitoxazonide is partially effective in immuno-competent patients but works no better than a placebo in immuno-suppressed patients
-patients with HIV/AIDs are advised to take anti retrovirals to improve immune response
control of cryptosporidiosis
-remove contaminatin at source water suppky, swimming pool
-monitoring
-hygiene measures as for prevetion of all faecal-oral diseases
-especially for at risk professions (nursery/agriculture)
cryptosporidiosis vaccines
-no vaccine on horizon
-knowledge in anti-malarial is beneficial
cryptosporidiosis case study
-Outbreak in Milwaukee during the spring of 1993 A o f
in which an estimated 400,000 people-developed Population
symptomatic cryptosporidiosis with 50 deaths
93% had HIV
Future directions of Cryptosporidiosis
Developmentofaneffectivedrug
– Children
– Immunosuppressed people
- Cryptosporidium Conclusions
- Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are waterborne pathogens that causes cryptosporidiosis, a flu-like intestinal disorder
- Disease in immunocompetent people is normally self-limiting but can be chronic and severe in immunocompromised people especially with AIDS
- There can be outbreaks, mainly from contaminated water sources or swimming pools
Toxoplasmosis intro
-T.gondii causes chronic infections in up to one-third of the human population and in animals
-in healthy individuals a primary infection with toxoplasma causes relatively mild symptoms whereas in the immunocompromised patient or in the
developing foetus, it can cause life-threatening infections with severe
neurological and ocular manifestations
-felines are the only definitive host
-toxoplasma has a complex life cycle consisting of intestinal and tissue phases
Toxoplasmosis intestinal phase
of the infection occurs only in felines and exhibits a typical intestinal life cycle consisting of merogony and gametogony.
Toxoplasmosis sexual cycle
produces oocysts which are excreted in faeces
Toxoplasmosis transmission routes
-ingestiob of material contaminated with sporoulated oocysts cat faeces
-ingestion of undercooked meat containing tissue cysts or tachyzoites
-infection rates of 50% r higher in domestic chickens, geese, cattle goats, pigs and sheep
-38% meat samples in UK positive
Toxoplasmosis congentical transmission
-can only occur during an acute infection acquired during pregnancy
-mothers with a chronic infection acquired before pregnancy are not at risk for transmitting toxoplasma
-2 in 1000 women catch toxoplasmosis
-in only 30-40% of women teh infection passes onto foetus
-Risk is greatest in the third trimester at 70%, whereas in early pregnancy only 15% of infants will become infected.
Toxoplasmosis
acute disease
In immuno competent individuals – Does not normally cause symptoms – Can cause flu-like symptoms
– Typically self-resolving within 6 week
toxoplasmosis acute disease those most at risk
- Pregnant women and their unborn children
- Those with weakened immune systems
- Toxoplasmosis infection may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or survival with growth problems, blindness, water on the brain (hydrocephalus), brain damage, epilepsy, or deafness. This often develops after birth, so even normally born infants of women with known infection should be kept under observation for some time.
toxoplasmosis chronic disease
-effects of congentical toxoplasmosis can be life long
-coular disease
-reactivation of dormant tissue cysts can occur
-neuroloical effects
toxoplasmosis dormant or resting stage
*As the host develops immunity the replication rate will slow and the infected host cells will become encapsulated (ie, tissue cysts).
– These slowly replicating forms are called bradyzoites (brady means slow) and represent a dormant or resting stage.
* Bradyzoites secrete chitin and other components to form a cyst wall
toxoplasmosis reactivation
-associated with waning immunity (malignancies, transplantation and AIDs)
-results from release of encysted organisms and the intitiation of te tachzoite stage of infection followed by tissue damage and inflammation
Ocular toxoplasmosis
-occurs from activation of cysts deposited in or near the retina
Reports of clinical toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent people- case study
-late 1994 and early 1995 outbreak of toxoplasmosis occured in a canadian community
-serological evidence consistent with acute toxoplasmosis was demonstrated in 100 people
-epidemiologic evidence implicated contamination of the city water supply withh oocysts
toxoplasmosis diagnosis
- Serologic testing IgG or IgM
- Molecular testing eg PCR
- Can detect parasite in biopsies
- Ocular disease by case history and serologic testing
toxoplasmosis treatment
- The recommended treatment is the synergistic combination of pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine.
- Spiramycin for prophylactic use during pregnancy
toxoplasmosis control
-cooking meat to safe temps
-wash fruit and veg
-avoid drinking untreated water
-wear gloves for gardening and wash hands afterwards
-clean cat litter trays immedietly avoid if pregnant
toxoplasmosis vaccine development and validation
-Toxovax® is intended for the prevention of toxoplasmosis abortion in ewes
(may revert to pathogenic strain so not suitable for humans)
-another type of vaccine that would be of grrat importance would be one administered to cats that could prevent or reduce the shedding of oocysts
-oral vaccine was developed and validated for cats
chromic effects of latent toxoplasmosis
rodent
– Host behavioural changes could benefit parasite
– infected rodents are more likely to investigate novel stimuli and appear less cautious when presented with signs of cats.
– hypothesised to increase the susceptibility of infected rodents to predation by cats, and therefore to increase the odds of completing the T. gondii life cycle.
chronic efffects of latent toxoplasmosis
human
– No adaptive benefit to parasite
– Case-control studies show interesting correlations with human behaviours, mental health disorders and toxoplasma seropositivity
* Schizophrenia, autism, risk-taking eg risk of traffic accident
toxoplasmosis conclusions
- Felines are the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii
- Toxoplasma gondii causes chronic infections in up to one-third of the human population and in animals
- In the immunocompromised patient or in the developing foetus, it can cause life-threatening infections with severe neurological and ocular manifestations
- T. gondii observed to alter rodent psychology and studies suggest association with human behaviour
Introduction to slow-growing Mycobacteria
- The doubling time of slow-growing mycobacteria is no less than 16 hrs
- Most are harmless environmental bacteria
- A few have evolved as major human pathogens
- M. tuberculosis * M. leprae
- M. ulcerans
3 chronic diseases slow growing mycobacteria
- Mycobacteria tuberculosis causes tuberculosis
- World’s deadliest infectious disease
- Mycobacteria leprae causes leprosy
- Affects skin, nerves, eyes and respiratory tract * Documented in ancient literature
- Mycobacteria ulcerans causes Buruli ulcer
- Affects the skin and sometimes bone
- can lead to permanent disfigurement and long-term disability
mycobacteria
what makes them pathogenic
- Low infectious dose (1 cell)
- Intracellular pathogens – in macrophage
- Resistant cell wall
- Subvert the human immune system
- Mycobacterial cell surface components stop phagosome killing
- Form characteristic granulomatous lesions
- Immune cell cluster limiting mycobacterial invasion which mycobacteria
can survive within * Slow-growing
mycobacteria granuloma
-host immune cells fight infection by clustering into granuloma
-mycobacteria are inside of macrophages in centre of granuloma
-contained but surviving
-suppressing phagosome killing
-balance between host and pathogen varies
Mycobacterial cell wall
- Acid fast staining
- NB neither Gram positive nor Gram negative
- thick, waxy, hydrophobic cell envelope
mycobacteria challenges to treatment/vaccination
- Resilient to most antibiotics
- Drugs are available that treat mycobacterial infections
- Resistance develops through mutation
- Long term treatment with antibiotic mixtures necessary
- The vaccine BCG offers partial protection, particularly to children
- Vaccines work poorly due to immune evasion strategies of mycobacteria
Slow growing mycobacteria summary
- Some slow growing mycobacteria are intracellular pathogens
- Unique features
- Cell wall structure
- Slow doubling time * Immune subversion
- Major disease causing agents * Human tuberculosis
- Leprosy
- Buruli ulcer
- Treatable but resistance to drugs a problem * Vaccine available- poor efficacy
Leprosy or hansens disease intro
a chronic infectious disease of the skin and nerves.
* The main causal agent is Mycobacterium leprae
* Symptoms are:
* loss of sensation in hands and feet * leading to disability through injury * blindness.
* Curable with multidrug treatment regimes
leprosy
-one of the oldest and most stigmatised diseases
-the stigma can result in rejection and exclusion (linked to widespread misunderstanding)
-not highly contagious
-typically caught via close contact over an extended period and is mainly spread through droplets from the nose and mouth by coughing
-can be cured
global distribution of leprosy
remains endemic in central africa, southeast asia and south america
-with more than 200000 new cases per year globally
leprosy statistics (WHO 2019 data)
-15,000 children were diagnosed
-an estimated 2 to 3 million people with leprosy
-countries with highest number of new diagnosis is india, brazil and indonesia
-over half of new cases are in india
-hoem to third of world’s poor a group disporoportiannally affected by the disease
leprosy nine banded armadillos
-in the USA they have been shown to transmit M.leprae to humans
-strains are shared
-respresents zoonotic resevoir
leprosy red squirrells in UK
-possible zoonotic resevoir
-only recently detected 2008
-non known squirrel-human transmission case
Leprosy disease presentation
-affects skin and nerves
symptoms are skin lesions, loss of sensation in hands and feet, disability through injury, blindness and nasal septum damage
M. leprae is intraceullar parasite of
-keratinocytes
-nerve cells
-dendritic cells
-macrophages
leprosy pathology
-chronic granulomatous disease effecting teh skin and peripheral nerves
-understanding of its pathogenesis and interaction with the human host is limited inability to culture the bacterium in vitro (some animal model organisms)
leprosy disease progression
-95% of people show no symptoms (heritable)
-within the 5% there are a range of symptoms
-classified in spectrum from Tb to leprosy
lepramatous leprosy
-extensive sensory loss over a longer period
-more severe disease and larger numbers of bacteria
-facial deformaties and paralysis
-involvement of eyes, bones and other tissues
spectrum from tuberculoid to lepromatous
cell-mediated immunity
-macrophage activation
humoral immunity
-macrophage suppression and b cell stimulation
Lepromatous leprosy is characterized by a Th2 T-cell immune response
- antibody complex formation
- the absence of granulomas
- failure to restrain M. leprae growth.
- robust antibody formation occurs but is not protective
- cell-mediated immunity is conspicuously absent (eg activation of macrophages)
tuberculoid leprosy
eatures Th1 T-cell cytokine response
* vigorous T-cell responses to M. leprae antigen
* containment of the infection in well-formed granulomas
leprosy nerve cell interactions
M. leprae is an obligate intracellular pathogen with a distinct preference for Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system and for macrophages
ischemia
resticted blood flow
apoptosis
programmed cell death
demyelination
loss of myelin sheath
Co-evolution of humans and M. leprae
- an obligate intracellular parasite whose primary host is humans
- likely that the leprosy bacilli started parasitic evolution in humans or early hominids millions of years ago
- makes leprosy the oldest human-specific infection
M. leprae evolution
-intraceullar therefore small genome through reductive evolution
-evolved to incresingly parasitic lifestyle resulting in only being able to grow within host cells
* It contained around 1,600 pseudogenes with loss of ~50% of the ancestral genes
* Pseudogenes are considered as molecular fossils
human co-evolution with M. leprae
- Susceptibility to leprosy varies, with protection heritable
- Multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involving many genes have been found to be associated with increased or decreased protection
- Region specific prevalences
- Example:
- Tol-like receptor 1 (TLR1) mutation from isoleucine to serine at AA 602 * Homozygous individuals protected against leprosy
- Suggests TLR1 part of pathogenesis mechanism for leprosy * Involved in immune response/signalling in macrophage
leprosy diagnosis
at least one of:
1. definitelossofsensationinapale(hypopigmented)or reddish skin patch
2. thickenedorenlargedperipheralnerve,withlossof sensation and/or weakness of the muscles supplied by that nerve
3. microscopicdetectionofbacilliinaslit-skinsmear
leprosy Classification of disease severity
- Paucibacillary (PB) :
- a case of leprosy with 1 to 5 skin lesions, without demonstrated
presence of bacilli in a skin smear. - Multibacillary (MB) :
- a case of leprosy with more than five skin lesions;
Image from Open University - or with nerve involvement (pure neuritis, or any number of skin lesions and neuritis);
- or with the demonstrated presence of bacilli in a slit-skin smear, irrespective of the number of skin lesions.
leprosy Treatment is dependent on PB or MB
- In 1981, the World Health Organization (WHO), recommended the use of multidrug therapy comprising of:
- dapsone
- clofazimine * rifampin
- 6 months treatment for PB
- 12 months treatment for MB
- Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can help to prevent disabilities
- WHO provide the multi drug therapy free of cost- donated through an agreement with Novartis
leprosy Treatment is dependent on PB or MB problems!!
- Problems of resistance emerging to all three drugs * Dapsone has been used since 1945
- most resistance to this drug
- Some cases relapse several years after therapy completed * Second line drugs are available if resistance to MDT arises
Dapsone
- A sulfone antibiotic
- inhibitor in the folate synthesizing enzyme system
- Folic acid is necessary for bacteria and humans alike
- Bacteriostatic
- Resistance can arise through point mutations on gene (folP1) for target enzyme
Rifampicin
- Ansamycin class of antibiotics
- Semisynthetic as it is modified from the natural product rifamycin * Action is as an RNA polymerase inhibitor
- Blocks bacterial transcription
- Side effects common
- Resistance occurs through mutations at binding site of rifampicin on RNA pol
Clofazimine
- Synthesised for 70 years
- Molecular mode of action against mycobacteria unclear!
- anti-inflammatory
- Resistance can occur through over expression of transporters
leprosy prevention
- Community awareness is key
- Case detection and treatment with MDT
- WHO recommends tracing household contacts along with neighbourhood and social contacts of each patient
- administration of a single dose of rifampicin as preventive chemotherapy to close contacts
- BCG vaccination given primarily for TB may offer some protection against leprosy
Problems with stigma associated with leprosy
- Many people living with leprosy are unable to work due to disability caused by the disease or may face stigma that prevents them from working
- In some countries, the law allows a person to legally divorce a spouse because they are affected by the disease
- The stigma of leprosy affects the physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being of those with leprosy, contributing to the cycle of poverty in the affected regions
leprosy Eradication of disease
- As a curable disease there is an aim to eradicate it within the human population through interruption of transmission
The Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030 “Towards zero leprosy”
1. implement integrated, country-owned zero leprosy road maps in all endemic countries
2. scale up leprosy prevention alongside integrated active case detection
3. manage leprosy and its complications and prevent new disability
4. combat stigma and ensure human rights are respected
Tuberculosis (TB)
-infectious air bourne disease
-main causal agent is Mtb)
-immune response can contain Mtb as latent form of disease
-active form is cotagious and causes disease symptoms
-primarily a pulmonary disease (lungs)
-can cause disease in most parts of body
-2021 second leaing infectious cause of death
-many low and middle income countries TB is a major cause of morbidity
TB summarised intro
- Curable with prolonged multidrug treatment regimes
- Increasing problems with drug resistance
- BCG vaccine offers some protection
- Other mycobacteria can also cause tuberculosis from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) including M. bovis
TB global distribution
sub saharan africa and asia
co infection with HIV
estimated HIV prevalence in new and relapse TB cases
TB transmission
-primarily airborne disease
-not highly infectious (3-10 people)
-long period of infectiousness without treatment 1yr<
Disease progression of TB
-eliminated
or
-latent = strong cell mediated response
or
-active = weak cell mediated response
Tb disease symptomss
- Pulmonary presentation
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
- Other symptoms of TB disease are: * weakness or fatigue
- weight loss
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
- TB in other parts of the body symptoms depend on part affected
diagnosis of Tb
- Physiology- night sweats, temperature, persistent cough, weight loss, fatigue
- Smear test- microscopic visualization of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum
- X-ray of the chest to detect patches on the lungs
- Cultivation sputum using highly growth sensitive systems such as the MGIT
Tb Diagnosis contnued
- Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) for hypersensitivity to antigens of Mtb.
- IFN-gamma release assay
- T-SPOT.TB assay for activated TB-specific effector T
cells (TB ELISpot) - Detection of Mtb specific antigens in the blood
- Detection of specific genes using qPCR GeneXpert targets Mtb using rpoB, also will detect rifampicin resistance
TB drog resistance
- MDR-TB is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most important first-line drugs used in the treatment of TB.
- This may result from either primary infection with drug-resistant bacteria or
- May develop in the course of a patient’s treatment when non-optimal
treatment durations or regimens are used. - Cure rates for MDR-TB are lower, typically ranging from 50% to 70%.
- XDR-TB is resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin as well as
any
Drug resistance (XDR-TB)
- XDR-TB is resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin as well as any fluoroquinolone and any of the second-line anti-TB injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycinor capreomycin).
- It has very high mortality rates.
TB Latency and drug resistance
- Latent TB is asymptomatic and not infectious; it arises upon immune restriction of the growth of M. tuberculosis in hosts.
- Hypoxia (one of several environmental stresses encountered by the Mtb in host cells), has been shown to induce non-replicative bacterial phenotypes, leading to tolerance towards certain drugs like cell-wall inhibitors such as isoniazid
- lack of potent drug activity on these bacterial phenotypes may be responsible for prolonging the TB treatment duration
TB prevention
Diagnosis and treatment of active TB cases
* Identify and test close contacts
- Identifying high risk latent TB cases and giving preventive treatment
- Manage environment: * Good ventilation
- Natural light (UV kills bacteria) * Good hygiene
- Improve conditions- healthy immune system
- BCG vaccination