microbio chapter 19 (G+) Flashcards
Characteristics of Staphylococcus
- normal member of microbiota
- found on our skin
- opportunistic pathogen
- SALT TOLERANT
- tolerant of desiccation
What characteristics allow Staph to live on our skin?
- it is salt tolerant
- it is tolerant to desiccation
- has many forms of innate immunity resistance
How is Staph resistant to our innate immunity?
- interference with the complement system
- SCIN
- oxidative active catalase
- protein A
- PNAG
- CHIPS
How does Staph interfere with complement system?
Staph produces Efb protein (extracellular fribrogen protein)
- Efb binds to C3B before C3B makes its way to the cell surface
- this makes Staph cells less easily phagocytized
What does SCIN do?
SCIN binds to C3 convertase in the Staph cell
- inhibits C3 convertase from making C3A and C3b
- this makes the cell less easily phagocytized
- also inhibits C3A working as an anaphylatoxin to traffic immunity cells to the damaged area
What do oxidative active catalases do to help Staph survive?
Catalases are utilized if a Staph cell is engulfed into a macrophage
- when phagosome binds with lysosome, Catalase responds to the harsh environment by breaking down toxins
- makes the phagolysosome less toxic and increases survival of Staph
What is the function of protein A and on what bacteria cell is it found?
- protein A is found on the surface Staph cells
- protein A functions to grab antibodies and flip them around (arms out)
- this prevents NKC from binding to bacteria cell and killing it
-flipped antibodies cover LESS cell surface allowing more space for Staph to work
What can protein A be used for to help sick people?
protein A can be used to gather antibodies that can then be used as doner antibodies for people that are sick with COVID
- this works because protein A gathers antibodies very well
What is the function of PNAG?
- poly-N-acetylglucosamine
- Covers any C3B on surface of Staph cell with a polysaccharide made by the cell
- covering C3B makes it harder for bacteria cell to be engulfed
What is the function of CHIPS?
- chemotaxis inhibitor proteins of staph
- CHIPS bind to anaphylatoxins
- this inhibits trafficking movement of immune response cells to damaged area
- bind to C5A primarily
What is Stpah the result of?
It is the result of MRSA resistance
What enzymes does Staph produce?
- Lipases
- beta-lactamase
What is the function of lipases produced by Staph?
digest lipids and allows Staph to grow on skin/ in oil glands
What is the function of beta-lactamase?
**break down beta lactams
- beta lactams include antibiotics that end in ‘cillin’ (penicillin)
Why are beta-lactamases significant?
They are significant because they break down beta lactams that can bind to transpeptidase proteins.
- when penicillin is present it binds to the transpeptidase and inhibits its function of forming NAM-NAM alanine bridges which interferes with cell wall production
What is MecA?
MecA is the unique transpeptidase found in Staph cell.
- penicillin does NOT bind to MecA so it can still makes bonds to form cell wall
How did Staph become a resistant bacterium?
It is a very competent cell that has picked up DNA from other cells.
What main toxin is produced by Staph?
Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin
- prevalent in feminine hygiene products
- causes toxic shock syndrome
Diagnosis of Staph
detection of G+ bacteria in grapelike clusters
Treatment of Staph
-methicillin
- vancomycin to treat MRSA infection
- penicillin and similar antibiotics are not effective
Prevention of Staph?
- hand antisepsis
Staph Antigen
- super antigen that binds to MHC2 protein and increases T-helper cells to bind
- leads to increase in cytokine production and release
- this stimulates the vagus nerve endings and causes vomiting (how it spreads)
Streptococcus pyogenes
- causes strep throat
- step=strips; found in strips of cocci
What makes Streptococcus pyogenes so pathogenic?
It contains protein M on its surface
- protein M undergoes many small mutations from cell to cell
- this is due to low rates of proofreading in the cell
- makes it so memory B cells cannot recognize new bacteria cells with slightly modified protein M on the surface
- body has to make new antibodies which takes 10-14 days allowing it to cause infection more regularly
What enzyme does Step make and what does it do?
Step makes C5A peptidase
- this protein breaks down C5A produced in the cell
- which lowers anaphylatoxin trafficking of immune cells to damaged area
What occurs due to lack of immune response to damaged areas of Step?
- lack of C5A trafficking leads to streptolysins and exotoxin A being produced
What toxins does Step make?
- streptolysin
- can kill neutrophils - exotoxin A
- over stimulates inflammation and cytotoxin release
**these grow subcutaneously and kill cells can lead to necrotizing fasciitis
Bacillus anthracis
- causes anthrax
- taken in as a spore
What are the three types of anthrax?
- GI anthrax: rare in humans but common in grazing animals (animals eat it as a spore)
- Cutaneous anthrax: occurs on the skin with open wounds allowing spores to enter bloodstream
-called wool sorters disease
-causes eschar ulcers on skin - Inhalation anthrax: occurs when anthrax is inhaled and deposited in the lungs
Inhalation anthrax (more detail)
-inhaled into lungs, not detectable early on
- leads to high mortality rates
- not common in humans
- spores reach lungs and germinate
**upon germination they can produce edema factor, lethal factor, and protective antigen
What toxins does Bacillus anthrax make when germinated?
- edema factor: increase cAMP levels
- lethal factor: zinc protease
- protective agent (not an actual toxin)