MICROBIOLOGY Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
An organism capable of causing disease
What is a commensal?
Organism which colonises a host but causes no disease
What is an opportunist pathogen?
Microbe that causes disease if host defences are compromised
What is virulence?
The degree to which a given organism is pathogenic
What are virulence factors?
factors are microbial factors that cause/modify disease
Define invasiveness
the capacity to penetrate mucosal surfaces to reach normally sterile sites
What is asymptomatic carriage?
When a pathogen is carried harmlessly
What are round bacteria called?
Coccus
What are rod bacteria called?
Bacillus
What colour do gram positive bacteria stain?
Purple
What colour do gram negative stain?
Red/pink
What type of organism would you stain with Ziehl-Neelsen?
Mycobacteria e.g., TB.
How would you carry out a gram stain?
ComeInAndStain
Apply primary stain - crystal violet (purple) - to heat fixed bacteria
Add iodine which binds to crystal violet and helps fix it to the cell wall
Decolourise with ethanol or acetone
Counterstain with safranin (pink)
- CRYSTAL VIOLET
- IODINE
- ACETONE/ETHANOL
- SAFRANIN (COUNTERSTAIN)
What are the differences between gram negative and positive bacteria?
Gram positive
- Thick peptidoglycan layer
- Single membrane - no outer lipid layer
- No endotoxin - as no lipopolysaccharide
Gram negative
- Inner and outer lipid membrane
- Do have endotoxin, due to large lipopolysaccharide
- thin peptidoglycan area
Describe the characteristic features of gram positive bacteria?
- Single membrane.
- Large peptidoglycan area.
Describe the characteristic features of gram negative bacteria?
- Double membrane.
- Small peptidoglycan area. (
- LPS (endotoxin area).
Between what temperatures and what pH range can bacteria grow?
Between -80 to +80°C. And from a pH of 4 to 9.
What are the 3 phases of bacterial growth?
- Lag phase.
- Exponential phase.
- Stationary phase
Give an example of a slow growing bacteria.
TB.
Give an example of a fast growing bacteria.
E.coli (Gram positive rod, anaerobic)
S.aureus. (gram positive Clusters Catalase +ve and coagulase +ve)
Give 2 functions of pili
- Help adhere to cell surfaces.
- Plasmid exchange
What is the primary function of flagelli?
Locomotion.
What is the primary function of the polysaccharide capsule?
Protection; prevents MAC or opsonisation molecules attacking.
What types of bacteria release endotoxin?
Gram negative
What types of bacteria release exotoxins?
Gram negative and positive
Describe endotoxins.
Endotoxin: component of the outer membrane of bacteria e.g. LPS in Gram negative bacteria
Non Specfific, Heat stable
Describe exotoxins.
What bacteria have them
Proteins secreted from gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
They are specific, but heat labile.
What are endotoxins made from?
Lipopolysaccarides
What are plasmids?
Circular pieces of DNA that often carry genes for antibiotic resistance.
How does genetic variation arise in bacteria?
Mutation
-Base substitution
-Deletion
-Insertion
Gene transfer
- Transformation e.g., via plasmid
- Transduction e.g., via phage
- Conjugation e.g., via sex pilus
What are the two first classifications of bacteria?
- Obligate intracellular bacteria (bacteria not grown in a lab)
- Bacteria that may be cultured on Artificial media
What are obligate intracellular bacteria? Give examples
Bacteria that can only grow inside a host cell i.e. we cannot grow them on agar. e.g.
- Rickettsia
- Chlamydia
- Coxiella
RICKETTSIA
How do you differentiate between different types of Rod/cocci bacteria?
Gram positive and gram negative
What is the way to differentiate within gram negative/positive bacteria?
Aerobic vs anaerobic
Give an example of a gram-positive aerobic cocci?
Staphylococcus and streptococcus.
What are the 3 types of streptococcus bacteria?
Map their classifications
- Beta-haemolytic
- Alpha-haemolytic
- Non-haemolytic
Streptococcus - Gram neg, Aerobic, Catalase negative
What is anaerobic gram-positive bacteria?
PEPTOSTREPTOCOCCUS
What are aerobic gram-negative bacilli bacteria?
Either lactose fermenting
- E Coli
- Klebsiella
Or non fermenting
- Salmonella
-Shigella
- Pseudomonas
or other
Vibrio
Legionella
How would you describe the arrangement of staphylococci?
Clusters of cocci
How would you describe the arrangement of streptococci?
Chains of cocci.
What bacteria would be coagulase positive?
Staphylococci aureus differentiating S.Aures from other staphs is key, as S aureus is much more virulent, has coagulase/DNAase
What bacteria would be coagulase negative?
All others e.g. staphylococci epidermidis.
What is the normal environment of staphylococci?
Nose and skin
How is Staphylococci aureus spread?
Aerosol and touch
- carriers and shedders
What are virulence factors for Staphylococci aureus?
- Pore-forming toxins e.g., haemolysin
- Proteases e.g., exofoaltin
- Toxic shock syndrome toxin
- Protein A (surface protein which binds to antibodies in wrong orientation)
What drug would be used to treat staphylococci?
Flucloxacillin
What type of infection is S. epidermidis
opportunistic
What test could be done to distinguish between different streptococci? How does it work?
Blood agar haemolysis.
The haemolysis test used hydrogen peroxide to test reaction with haemoglobin
What would you see on the agar plate in α haemolysis and give an example of a bacteria in this group.
Give an example of this
α haemolysis is PARTIAL erythrocyte lysis; you see a green colour. Streptococcus pneumoniae falls in this group
What would you see on the agar plate in β haemolysis and give an example of a bacteria in this group?
β haemolysis is complete erythrocyte lysis; you see a clear area. Streptococcus pyogenes and streptococcus agalactiae fall in this group.
What would you see on the agar plate in γ haemolysis and give an example of a bacteria in this group.
Give an example of this
γ haemolysis is when there is no haemolysis. Streptococcus bovis falls in this group.
What is are two examples of beta haemolytic strep infections?
S.agalactiae and S.pyogenes
Give examples of alpha haemolytic bacteria.
- S.pneumoniae
- Viridans group streptococci
MISC - Give examples of aerobic gram-positive bacilli. Rods
- Listeria monocytogenes (can cause menigitis)
- Bacillus anthracis
Give examples of anaerobic gram-positive bacilli
- C. tetani
Tetanus - C. botulinum
Botulism - C. difficile
antibiotic-associated diarrhea
pseudomembranous colitis
Give examples of gram-negative bacilli: 2 lactose fermenting and 2 non lactose fermenting.
Are either Lactose Fermenting, eg
- Escherichia (E
Coli)
- Klebsiella
Or non-Lactose fermenting - Salmonella - Shigella Pseudomonas (oxidase +Ve)
What kind of bacteria is MacConkey agar used with?
Gram negative bacilli
What is MacConkey agar?
MacConkey agar contains bile salts, lactose and pH indicator. If an organism ferments lactose, lactic acid will be produced, and the agar will appear a red/pink colour.
Name 2 gram-negative bacilli that will give a positive result with MacConkey agar.
- E.Coli.
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Does e-coli have an H antigen?
Yes, as it is motile
Key Gram Negative Bacteria:
For E coli, give
a) Lactose fermenting or not
b) Associated infections
c) Commensal Locations
d) Sensible Antbx
Lactose fermenting
UTIs, traveller’s diarrhoea, cholecystitis, cholangitis
GI tract
Co-amoxiclav
Causes majoirty of UTIs
Does shigella have an H antigen?
No as it is not motile
Key Gram Negative Bacteria:
For Shigella , give
a) Lactose fermenting or not
b) Associated infections
c) Commensal Locations
d) Sensible Antbx
e)What are the symptoms of shigella infection?
It is non lactose fermenting, and oxidase negative
Shigellosis (diarrhoea, fever), frequent pooing
Small volume, pus and blood, prostrating cramps, pain in straining, fever.
No commensal location, it comes from water
Treat with Quinolones, Azithromycin
Does salmonella have an H antigen?
Yes as it is motile
Key Gram Negative Bacteria:
For Salmonella , give
a) Lactose fermenting or not
b) Associated infections
c) Commensal Locations
d) Sensible Antbx
e) Symptoms
What infections are caused by salmonella?
It is gram negative and non lactose fermenting and so appears white on Macconkey agar
Non lactose fermenting, oxidase negative.
Salmonellosis (diarrhoea)
Intestines (from raw meats, poultry, eggs
Amoxicillin, Quinolones,
- Gastroenteritis/enterocolitis e.g., food poisoning
What is nisseria? What 2 main disease does it cause, what anbx would you treat it with?
Gram negative Cocci
It mainly causes gonorrhoea and meningitis
Some species commensal, some pathogenic only
Anbx treatment Cephalosporins, Ceftriaxone
Why are there pathogenic strains of e.coli?
Due to the acquisition of genes from other bacteria
Which type of e.coli would you associate with causing travellers diarrhoea?
Enterotoxigenic e.coli (ETEC).
Most common cause of travellers diarrhoea
What are the symptoms of enteropathogenic e.coli infection?
Chronic watery diarrhoea
What are the symptoms of enterohaemorrhagic e.coli infection?
Bloody diarrhoea.
What are the symptoms of v.cholerae?
Huge volumes of watery stools (no blood or pus).
Why is v.cholerae so dangerous?
You’re losing huge amounts of water which can result in hypovolemic shock and severe dehydration, this can lead to death.
Why is v.cholerae not killed if you have a fever?
It grows at 18 - 42°C.
Why would you need to be infected with a large amount of v.cholerae to show symptoms of the disease?
The optimum pH for v.cholerae growth is 8; alkaline. It is therefore very sensitive to the pH of the stomach.
What is the pathogenesis of cholera?
Cholera toxin - causes Gs subunit to be locked on
uncontrolled cAMP production
increase PKA
Increased activity of CFTR channel
Loss of Cl- and Na+
Water follows and massive H2O loss
aka releases A toxin that deregulates ion transport in epithelial cells
Name the bacteria that can cause legionnaires disease?
Legionella.
Who might be susceptible to infection by legionella?
Immunocompromised individuals.
What type of bacteria are Neisseria?
Gram negative diplococci.
What are the two medically important species of neisseria?
N.meningitidis and N.gonorrhoeae.
How is N.meningitidis transmitted?
Aerosol transmission. High risk in colonised people e.g. university, Haj.
Describe the pathogenesis of N.meningitidis.
Crosses nasopharyngeal epithelium and enters blood stream. Can cause asymptomatic bacteraemia or septicaemia. If the bacteria crosses the BBB it can cause meningitis.
How can you detect chlamydia?
Serum antibodies or PCR.
Name the spirochaete that is responsible for causing lyme disease.
B.burgdorferi.
Name the spirochaete that is responsible for causing syphilis.
T.pallidum.
What is the ziehl-neelsen stain?
What gives what colours?
- Used for mycobacteria which don’t take up gram stain
- Acid fast bacilli are red
- Non-acid-fast bacilli are blue
What is the catalase test?
- Add h2o2 to bacteria to see for bubbling reaction
- Bubbles= positive test
What is the catalase test used to distinguish between?
Streptococci and Staphylococci
Are Streptococci catalase negative or positive?
Negative
Are Staphylococci catalase negative or positive?
Positive
Are most gram-negative bacteria catalase negative or positive?
- Most are positive
- E-coli and fungi are positive
What is the coagulase test?
What does the coagulase enzyme do?
- An enzyme produced by s.aureus turns fibrinogen (soluble) into fibrin (insoluble)
- Used to distinguish between s.aureus and other types of staphylococci
Is Staphylococci aureus positive or negative for the coagulase test?
Positive (clumping) due to formation of fibrin, making solution cloudy
What further test can be done for those streptococci in the β haemolysis group?
Serogrouping; detecting surface antigens. e.g., lancefield grouping.
What would you see on the agar plate in α haemolysis and give an example of a bacteria in this group.
α haemolysis is partial erythrocyte lysis; you see a green colour. Streptococcus pneumoniae falls in this group
What would you see on the agar plate in β haemolysis and give an example of a bacteria in this group?
What bacteria would you see here
β haemolysis is complete erythrocyte lysis; you see a clear area. Streptococcus pyogenes and streptococcus agalactiae fall in this group.
What is the lancefield test
- Specific antibodies (A B, C) BOUND to set of latex beads
- Bacteria added and mixed
If bacteria have the antigen that corresponds to the antibody, the latex beads clump together === white dots
If they do not, then the suspension will remain milky white
What is the optochin test? For what bacteria would you use it for
- Place an optochin-soaked disc and place on agar plate of bacteria
- If there is growth around the disc then the bacteria are resistant and no growth around disc means bacteria are sensitive
For gram postive Streptococcus, that are alpha haemolytic eg Streptococci Pneumoniae Optochin Sensitive or Viridans Strep - optochin Resistant
What bacteria are optochin resistant?
Viridans streptococci (infective endocarditis) and other alpha haemolytic streptococci
What bacteria are optochin sensitive?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (causes lobar pneumonia and meningitis)
What is the oxidase test? For what bacteria would you use it for
- Test to see if microorganism contains a cytochrome oxidase
- All bacteria that are oxidase positive are aerobic
- Bacteria that are oxidase negative may be aerobic or anaerobic
Gram negative Bacilli, that are non lactose fermenting (MC agar =white)
What are the colour changes for the oxidase test?
- Oxidase positive: Blue
- Oxidase negative: No colour change
Name some oxidase positive bacteria?
- Pseudonomas
- V. cholerae
- Campylobacter e.g., C. jejuni
- Helicobacter
Why does MacConkey agar only grow gram negative bacteria?
Bile salts inhibit the growth of gram positive bacilli
What will happen to the MacConkey agar if lactose fermenting bacilli are present?
- Lactose fermenting produce acid
- This will turn indicator on agar red
Name some lactose fermenting bacilli?
- E. COLI
- KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE (typical organism that causes
biliary infection) - ENTEROBACTER SPP.
Name some non-lactose fermenting bacilli?
- Salmonella spp.
- Shigella spp.
Psuedomonas
They appear white/transparent
What is XLD agar used for?
To differentiate between Shigella and Salmonella
Gram -ve bacilli, Non lactose fermenting, oxidase -ve test
What colour does Shigella go on XLD?
White spots on dark red
What colour does Salmonella go on XLD?
Black spots on bright pink
What shape are most gram-positive bacteria?
Round (cocci)
What shape are most gram-negative bacteria?
Rod (bacilli)
Which Lancefield groups are associated with tonsilitis and skin infection?
A , C and G.
Which Lancefield groups are associated with neonatal sepsis and meningitis?
B.
Which Lancefield groups are associated with UTI’s?
D. (Enterococci)
Describe CLED agar and explain why it might be used.
What bacteria is it good for diagnosing?
Cysteine Lactose electrolyte deficient
Used to differentiate microorganisms in urine
Also allows the classification of lactose fermenting (yellow) and non-lactose fermenting (blue) of gram-negative bacilli
Good for culturing E.coli - LACTOSE FERMENTING yellow and Salmonella and shigella as blue
What agar is used to culutre TB?
Lowenstein-Jensen agar
What type of agar is often used to culture Neisseria bacteria?
Gonoccoccus agar
Describe chocolate agar and explain why it might be used.
Chocolate agar is blood agar that has been heated so as to release nutrients.
Chocolate agar is often used for growing fastidious bacteria.
(A fastidious organism is any organism that has complex or particular nutritional requirements. In other words, a fastidious organism will only grow when specific nutrients are included in its medium)
eg H.Influenzae
What bacteria would be assciated with theses infections, and have the commensal location of nasal passages and skin?
Impetigo, boils, cellulitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome
Nasal passages + skin
Staphyl. Aureus.
Clusters
Coagulase +ve
Key Gram positive bacteria: Outline bacterium Group A Strep (Strep pyogenes) (beta haemoyltic)
a) Associated infections
b) Commensal Location
c) Sensible Antbx
Cellulitis, tonsillitis, impetigo, scarlet fever, pharyngitis
Resp tract
Amoxicillin (any penicillins)
Throat + skin infections
Key Gram postive bacteria: What antibiotic would you give to treat MRSA?
A big gun, like
Gentamicin, Vancomycin
What is Sabouraud’s agar used for?
Used to culture fungi.
Describe mycobacteria.
- Aerobic.
- Non-motile.
- Non spore forming.
- Bacilli.
What are the 3 classes of mycobacteria of medical importance and give an example of each
- MTB (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis) Complex
- M. tuberculosis (Tuberculosis)
- Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterium
- M. kansasii (chronic lung infection)
- Non-cultivable
- M. leprae (leprosy)
What is the cell wall of Mycobacteria like? How is it classified in terms of gram staing?
The cell wall is very thick and has a high lipid content.
Sit within the gram-positive family
What do you use to stain mycobacteria?
b) What can be used to aid the visualisation of mycobacteria?
- Do not stain with normal method therefore known as Ziehl-Neelsen/Acid fast Positive
- Composition of cell wall makes it impervious to staining
- High lipid content with mycolic acids in cell wall
b) Fluorochrome stain augmentation
Are mycobacteria
a) Aerboic or anaerobic
b) Spore forming
c) Motile
Aerobic
No
No
What is the significance of the waxy cell wall of mycobacteria?
- Difficult to target with antibacterial agents
- Survive inside macrophages, even in low pH environments
Why is it hard to use therapeutic antibodies against mycobacteria?
- Slow reproduction - one of the targets for antibacterials is their fast reproduction time (Some as short as 20 minutes whereas mycobacteria can reach 20 hours)
- Slow growth in humans - gradual onset of disease
- Slow growth in culture - difficult to diagnose
- Slow response to treatment
How could you detect whether an individual has had previous exposure to TB?
- Tuberculin skin test (mantoux).
- Interferon gamma release assays.
Name some sterile sites in the body.
- Urinary tract.
- CSF.
- Pleural fluid.
- Peritoneal cavity.
- Blood.
- Lower respiratory tract.
Where in the body would you find normal flora (commensals)?
- Mouth.
- Skin.
- Vagina.
- Urethra.
- Large intestine.
What is a virus?
an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
Which viruses are Non-enveloped?
- Adenovirus
- Parvovirus
What viruses are enveloped?
- Influenza
- HIV
Describe the process of viral replication?
- Attachment to receptor on host cell
- Cell entry- uncoating of virion within the cell
- Host cell interaction and replication- migration of genome to cell nucleus, transcription to mRNA using host material
- Assembly of new virion
- Release of new virus partciles
How are new virus particles released?
- Burts out resulting in cell death e.g., rhinovirus
- Budding/exocytosis e.g., HIV and influenza
What diagnostic tests are used for identifying viruses?
- PCR - identifies viral genetic material
- Serology - identifies if there is immunological memory of a particular virus (e.g. IgG is used to detect long-term memory)
- Histopathology - identifies features of viral infection
- Viral cultures, with light microscopy
- Electron Microscopy
Outline how Serology works
- Serology - identifies if there is immunological memory of a particular virus (e.g. IgG is used to detect long-term memory)
Outline some pros and cons of PCR testing
Pros
Very fast
Cheap
Can test for multiple viruses at the same time, by using a mix of primers
Very sensitive - (if you have it, a PCR will almost definitely give a positive result)
Cons
Need to suspect viruses before hand
Risk of giving false positive
What colour swabs do you use for diagnosing viruses and bacteria?
Green viral swab
and black charcoal swab for bacteria
How do viruses cause disease?
- Direct destruction of host cells e.g., poliovirus lysis of neurons
- Modification of host cell e.g., rotavirus atrophies villi and flattens epithelial cells
- “Over reactivity” of immune system e.g., hepatitis B
- Damage through cell proliferation e.g., HPV which causes cervical cancer
- Evasion of host defences e.g., Herpesviridae, Measels, HIV