Microbiology Flashcards

1
Q

What colour does Gram-positive bacteria stain with the Gram stain?

A

Purple/blue

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2
Q

What colour does Gram-negative bacteria stain with the Gram stain?

A

Pink/red

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3
Q

What causes the differences in staining in bacteria between Gram positive and negative?

A

Gram-positive bacteria have cell membrane and surrounding cell wall
Gram negative have cytoplasmic membrane, surrounding peptidoglycan and then an outer membrane
Stains bind to the peptidoglycan, which cannot happen in gram negative, producing different colours

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4
Q

Give examples of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and the associated disease

A

Escherichia coli
Salmonella (tyhimurium- food poisoning, typhi- thypoid)
Shigella (dysentry)
Vibrio cholerae (cholera)
Neisseria (meningitidis- meningitis, gonorrhoeae- gonorrhea)

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5
Q

Give examples of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria and the associated disease

A
Staphylococcus aureus (skin disease, endocarditis, bacteraemia, joint diseases, pneumonia)
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media)
Streptococcus pyogenes (tonsilitis, necrotising fasciitis, bactereamia, scarlet fever)
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6
Q

Give examples of pathogenic mycobacterium and the associated disease

A
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy)
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7
Q

Give examples of extracellular pathogens

A

Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Yersinia
Neisseria

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8
Q

Give examples of intracellular pathogens

A
Listeria
Shigella
Salmonella
Mycobacterium
Coxiella
Chlamydia (obligate)
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9
Q

Do Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria have type III secretions?

A

Gram-negative

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10
Q

What two things are required for motility and invasion?

A

Flagella

Type III secretion system

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11
Q

What are type III secretions?

A

Similar to flagella machine but delivers virulence proteins (effectors) into host cell

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12
Q

How does Salmonella invade host cells?

A

Via type III secretions system

Bacertial virulene proteins (effectors) induce actin polymerisation, membrane ruffling and bacterial internalisation

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13
Q

How does Listeria invade cells, become mobile and spread between cells?

A

Free bacterium is phagocytosed by host cells by zipper mechanism
Bacteria escaped the endosome and initiates actin nucleation. This assembles an actin tail making the bacteria motile.
Protrusion formation allows cell-to-cell spread, and as it has come from a neighbouring cell it is not detected as foreign

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14
Q

What are the three mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer?

A

Transformation
Transduction
Conjugation

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15
Q

How do bacteria replicate?

A

Binary fission

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16
Q

What is the process of binary fission?

A

1) Duplication of chromosome
2) Continued growth of the cell
3) Division into two cells

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17
Q

What is the process of transformation in horizontal gene transfer?

A

Free DNA (a single-stranded segment) is taken into the bacterium using DNA uptake proteins

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18
Q

What is the process of transduction in horizontal gene transfer?

A
A phage (virus) infects the bacterium, replicating it's DNA inside the bacterium and cutting bacterial DNA into small pieces.
Some bacterial DNA may then be packaged into phage heads. Bacterium lyses and new phage particles are released.
Phage particle injects bacterial DNa into new bacterial cell
Injected DNa may be incorporated into bacterial chromosome
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19
Q

What is the process of conjugation in horizontal gene transfer?

A

Donor bacterium has a transmissible plasmid
Two bacteria form a mating bridge
Plasmid enters mating bridge and is replicated
When bacteria separate they each have a plasmid copy

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20
Q

What is the pathogenicity island?

A

The driving force of evolution in bacteria. They are a distinct class of genomic island acquired through horizontal gene transfer

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21
Q

Give examples of routes of infection by bacteria

A
Intrinsic and extrinsic
Upper respiratory tract
Urogenital tract
Broken skin
Gastrointestinal tract (faecal-oral)
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22
Q

How are upper respiratory tract infections usually acquired?

A

Usually extrinsically-acquired from respiratory tract droplets or airbourne
Hand transmission can act as intermediate

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23
Q

What are the consequences of a bacterial infection acquired via the upper respiratory tract?

A

Upper respiratory tract infection (Pharyngitis, tonsilitis, sinusitis)
Lower respiratory tract infection (Bronchitis, pneumonia, pneumonitis)
Spread to adjacent tissue (Brain abscess, meningitis, empyema (pleural space), pericarditis)
Spread to bloodstream (Bacteraemia e.g.pneumococcal bacteraemia, meningococcal bacteraemia)

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24
Q

Where do intrinsic infections of the urogenital tract occur? Give examples

A

Large intestine
e.g. E. coli, Bacteroides ap. Proteis spp, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella, Enterococci, Streptococcus group B, Candida/yeast

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25
What types of extrinsic infections occur in the urogenital tract? Give examples
``` Nosocomial infections (Urinary catheters) Sexually transmitted infections (Neiserria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum (syphilis), HIV, HSV- viruses) ```
26
What are the consequences of urogenital infections?
UTI (cystitis-bladder, pyelonephritis-kidney) | Pelvic infection/STD (Gonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubo-ovarian abscess)
27
Give examples of pregnancy-related urogenital infections
Neonatal group B strep infection Neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis Maternal endometritis (group A strep)
28
Give examples of infections that target broken skin, and where they usually occur
Skin and mouth bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Strepptococcus pyogenes) Recent antibiotics/hospital (MRSA, pseudomonas) Surgery/ bowel flora exposure (all of the above + Gram-negatives) Unusual pathogens (Dog bites- pasteurella multocida, Medicinal leeches- aeromonas hydrophilia, Soil- clostridium tetani)
29
What are the consequences of infections via broken skin?
``` Superficial infection Cellulitis Abscess Fasciitis Myositis Gangrene/necrotic infection Bacteraemia ```
30
What are the consequences of an infection acquired via the gastrointestinal tract?
Diarrhoeal illnesses (Vomiting only (e.g. toxins), diarrhoea and vomiting, diarrhoea only, dysentery- bloody diarrhoea) Bacteremic/ systemic infections (Typhoid (S.typhi), Listeriosis (L. monocytogenes), Salmonellosis and septic arthritis, aortitis) Toxin-mediated disease- Diarrhoea and vomitting (e.g. S. aureus enterotoxin), neurological (e.g.botulism)
31
What are the five factors that influence a pathogen's infectivity?
Transmission to host Ability to colonise host Tropism- find unique niche (in or outside host) Replicate Immune evasion at site of colonisation or niche
32
What is infectivity?
The ability of a pathogen to establish an infection
33
What four factors influence a pathogen's virulence?
Toxin production Enzymes that degrade host molecules Interruption of normal host processes Complete immune evasion
34
What is virulence?
Virulence is how able a pathogen is, to cause disease
35
What is infectious dose? What is it affected by? (5) Give examples
Infectious dose is the number of bacteria required to initiate an infection. It can be affected by: - Route of transmission (Stomach acid means high dose required) - Ability to conolise (Enteropathogenic E. coli "EPEC" type 3 secretions for adherence) - Tropism and motility (Vibrio cholerae- high infective dose but flagella motility may help it reach gut epithelium) - Replication speed (Mycobacterium tuberculosis- low infective dose, very low replication rate, able to survive inside macrophages and resist killing) - Immune evasion site
36
What is the pathogenicity of Vibro cholerae?
``` Enormous infective dose: >1000000 Flagella used to penetrate mucus Then makes 2 component toxin A + B Binds to GM gangliosides on gut Triggers cAMP Chloride efflux Na and water follow Profuse diarrhoea ("rice water stools") ```
37
What is the effect of group B strep on neonates?
Genital tract colonisation with group B strep (from GI tract)- harmless to 30-40% of women leads to invasive group B strep infection in neonates: meningitis, septicaemia, death
38
What is an antibiotic?
An antimicrobial agent produced by a microorganism that kills of inhibits other microorganisms
39
What does a bactericidal antibiotic do?
Kills bacteria
40
What does a bacteriostatic antibiotic do?
Stops bacteria growing
41
Antibiotic resistance usually occurs soon after the emergence of a new antibiotic with the exception of which antibiotics? (2)
Vancomycin | Erythromycin
42
What effect does antibiotic resistance have on patients?
Increased morbidity Increased mortality Increased time to effective therapy Requirement for additional approaches (e.g. surgery) Use of expensive therapy (newer drugs) Use of more toxic drugs (e.g. vancomycin) Use of less effective 'second choice' antibiotics
43
What are the major Gram-negative antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CF, burn wound infections. Survives on abiotic surfaces) - E. coli (ESBL, Klebsiella spp NDM-1→ GI infection, neonatal meningitis, septicaemia, UTI) - Salmonella spp. (MDR- GI infection, typhoid fever) - Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB→ opportunistic, wounds, UTI, pneumonia (VAP). Survives on abiotic surfaces) - Neisseria gonorrhoeae
44
What are the major Gram-positive antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens?
- Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, VISA→ Wound and skin infection, pneumonia, septicaemia, infective endocarditis) - Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia, septicaemia) - Clostridium difficile (pseudomembranous colitis, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea) - Enterococcus spp (VRE→ UTI, bacteraemia, infective endocarditis) - Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDRTB, XDRTB→tuberculosis)
45
What is the reason for the high rate of hospital acquired infections?
High density of susceptible people Presence of pathogen Staff vectors Open wounds Inserted medical devices (e.g. IV catheters) Disruption of normal flora due to antibiotic prophylaxis/therapy
46
What is the mechanism of action of beta-lactams? Give antibiotic examples
Interferes with synthesis of peptidoglycan component of bacterial cell wall by binding to penicillin-binding proteins. PBPs catalyse a number of steps in the synthesis of peptidoglycans. Beta-lactams bind PBPs with high affinity and inhibit their function (except PBP2a of MRSA) e.g. Penicillin, methicillin, cephalothin
47
What is the mechanism of action of tetracycline?
Bacteriostatic, broad spectrum antibiotic. Inhibits protein synthesis. Binds to 16S component of the 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing interaction of charged aminoacyl-tRNAs with the mRNA/ribosome complex. This prevents the elongation of the peptide
48
What is the mechanism of action of chloramphenicol?
Bacteriostatic, broad spectrum antibiotic. Inhibits protein synthesis. Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit and blocks peptide transfer step. Often used topically due to toxicity, however AB resistance is renewing interest in chloramphenicol as a systematic therapeutic.
49
What are the four mechanisms of antibiotic resistance? What antibiotic uses all four of these?
1) Altered target site 2) Drug inactivation 3) Efflux 4) Altered metabolism Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses all four mechanisms
50
What approaches are used to prevent emergence of drug resistant bacteria and nosocomial infections?
Better prescribing practices Infection control Combination therapy Narrow vs broad spectrum antibiotic therapy
51
What are the main causes of human fungal infections? (4)
Candida albicans Coccidioides immitis Histoplasma capsulatum Aspergillus fumigatus
52
How do fungi digest their food?
Extracellularly- they secrete hydrolytic enzymes which break down biopolymers to be absorbed for nutrition. Fungi are saphrophytes (live suspended in their own food source)
53
What types of illness are caused by fungi? (3)
1) Allergies 2) Mycotoxicoses 3) Mycoses
54
Give examples of allergies caused by fungi
Rhinitis Dermatitis Asthma Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA→ occurs in 2.5% of asthmatics)
55
What are mycotoxicoses? Give examples
A toxic reaction caused by ingestion or inhalation of a mycotoxin. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of moulds that exert a toxic effect on animals and humans e.g. Amanita species, Psilocybin
56
What symptoms occur in Amanita species? What therapy?
Breathing problems, dizziness, severe vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, hepatic and renal failure 6 days later Therapy- Gastric lavage and charcoal, liver transplant
57
What is the most carcinogenic natural compound known?
Aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus
58
What are the classifications of mycoses?
Superficial Cutaneous Sub-cutaneous Systemic
59
What is a superficial mycoses infection? Give examples
A superficial cosmetic fungal infection of the skin of hair shaft. No living tissue if invaded and there is no cellular response from the host e.g. Black piedra (Piedraia hortae) White piedra (Trichosporon beigelii) Dandruff (Malassezia globosa) Tinea nigra (Phaeoannellomyces werneckii)
60
What is the mechanism of a cutaneous mycoses? Give examples
Dermatophytes or keratinophilic fungi Produce extracellular enzymes (keratinases) which are capable of hydrolysing keratin. Inflammation if caused by the host response to metabolic by-products e.g. Tinea capitis/ pedis/ corporis/ cruris/ unguium
61
What is Tinea capitis?
Scalp ringworm Superficial fungal infection of the skin of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes with a propensity for attacking hair shafts and follicles
62
What is Tinea pedis?
Athletes foot
63
What is Tinea corporis?
Ringworm
64
What is a subcutaneous mycoses? Give examples
Chronic, localised infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue following traumatic implantation of the aetilogic agent e.g. Sporotrichosis (Sporothrix) Chromoblastomycosis (several spp.) Mycetoma (several spp.) Sporotrichosis (Sporothrix schenckii- increasingly seen in combat blast wounds)
65
What are systemic mycoses?
Affects internal organs. Primary infections can become established in a normal healthy host. Opportunistic require a compromised host in order to establish an infection
66
Give examples of primary systemic mycoses infections
Coccidioides immitis Histoplasma capsulatum Blastomyces dermatiditis Paracocidioides brasiliensis
67
Give examples of opportunistic mycoses infections
``` Cryptococcus neoformans Candida Aspergillus Penicillium marneffei The zygomycetes Trichosporon beigelii Fusarium ```
68
How are fungal infections diagnosed?
1) Sample acquisition 2) Microscopy 3) Culture 4) Identification
69
What are the targets for antifungal therapy?
1) Cell membrane 2) DNA Synthesis 3) Cell wall
70
What is the mechanism of action of cell membrane active antifungals? Give examples
Inhibit synthesis of ergosterol (the main sterol in the fungal membrane). Act upon fungal cytochrome P450 enzymes e.g. Polyene antibiotics (Amphotericin B, lipid formulations, Nystatin) Azole antifungals (Ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole)
71
Give an example of a fungal DNA/RNA synthesis inhibitor
Pyrimidine analogues- Flucytosine Often combined with azoles in combination therapy: Fluconazole and Flucytosine is often used to treat cryptococcal meningitis
72
What is the mechanism of action of cell wall active antifungals?
Major components are glucans and chitin. non-specific inhibition of β 1, 3 glucan synthase
73
Give an example of a cell wall active antifungal
Echinocandins- Caspofungin (Cancidas)
74
What is the mycelium made up of?
Hyphae
75
What are Koch's postulates?
Criteria for identifying a microorganism causing disease 1) Microorganism found in large numbers in diseased animals but not in healthy ones 2) Microorganism isolated from a diseased animal and grown in pure culture 3) Microorganism when injected into healthy host much produce the same disease 4) Microorganism recovered from experimental host, isolated and compared to first microorganism = identical
76
What is a virus?
Infectious obligate intracellular parasite. DNA or RNA genome
77
What is the morphology of a virus?
- Filamentous - Isometric - Enveloped - Head and tail (infects bacteria)
78
What are the different classes of virus?
- DNA virus - RNA virus - Capsid - Enveloped - Non-enveloped
79
What is a DNA virus? Give examples
Virus that has DNA as it's genetic material and replicates using DNA dependent DNA polymerase The DNA is usually double stranded but can be single stranded ssDNA→ Parvovirus B19; fifth disease/ slap face dsDNA→ HSV1; cold sores, smallpox, Papillomavirus; warts dsDNA (retrovirus)→Hepatitis B; hepatocellular carcinoma
80
What is an RNA virus? Give examples
Has RNA as it's genetic material. RNA (positive sense)→SARS, norovirus, poliovirus;poliomyelitis, dengue virus;DHF dsRNA→ Rotavirus; diarrhoea RNA (negative sense)→ Ebola, rabies, Lassa fever, influenza, Measles, Mumps RNA (positive sense)- retrovirus (Include DNA intermediates in their replication cycle)→ HIV; AIDs
81
What is a retrovirus? Give an example
An RNA virus that includes DNA intermediates in it's replication cycle e.g. HIV/ AIDs
82
What is the difference between a positive and negative sense virus action once it gets inside a cell?
A positive sense virus can make protein as soon as it gets into a cell A negative sense virus must translate it
83
What type of virus has accessory genes? What is the effect of these and consequence of not having them?
DNA viruses have accessory genes that can modify the host immune response. RNA viruses do not have them and therefore do not have proof-reading mechanisms
84
What is the process of virus replication?
1) Attachment to cell membrane 2) Entry into cell 3) Translation 4) Replication 5) Assembly 6) Exit
85
What is the cytopathic effect of viruses usually a result of?
Lysing the cell- due to shut down of host protein synthesis or accumulation of viral proteins
86
What are the methods of viral diagnosis?
Detecting 1) Viral genome (PCR) 2) Viral antigen (IFA, ELISA) 3) Virus particles (EM, HA) 4) Virus cytopathic effect in cultured cells (Virus isolation) 5) Antibodies to virus (serology)
87
What routes can viruses enter the body through?
1) The epithelial layers; respiratory tract, GI tract, genital tract 2) Directly into the blood through a bite or needle 3) Through the skin, often following an abrasion
88
What is tropism?
The predilection of viruses to infect certain types of tissues and not others. Can be defined by: - receptor interactions (susceptibility) - ability to use the host cell to complete replication (permissivity) - whether the virus can reach tissue (accessibility)
89
Give examples of modes of transmission of viruses
- Measles virus→ Receptors: CD155 (SLAM) and Nectin 4. Entry to new host uses SLAM on immune cells. Exit from infected host uses Nectin4 on airway epithelia - Influenza→ Receptors: NA and HA. Entry through endosomes. Low endosomal pH triggers fusion- HA cleavage is required for exposure of fusion peptide
90
What does iatrogenic mean?
Illness caused by medical examination or treatment
91
What does nosocomial mean?
Infection acquired in hospital
92
What is vertical transmission?
From parent to offspring
93
What is horizontal transmission?
All other forms
94
What is viraemia?
Virus in the blood
95
How does a varicella zoster virus infection occur?
1) Virus enters body through peripheral route 2) Can infect many cell types including PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and skin cells 3) This leads to mild self-limiting illness in most childhood cases 4) From the skin site, it can infect sensory neurones where is remains latent 5) In herpes zoster, or shingles, occurring in adulthood when cellular immunity is impaired, virus is reactivated in the sensory neurone and causes a painful rash at the nerve endings
96
What are the different outcomes of infection by viruses?
``` Acute infection Persistent infection Latent infection Slow infection Oncogenesis ```
97
Describe the process of a typical acute infection
Infection and viral replication until it reaches the threshold to activate adaptive immune response. Induction of adaptive immune response Adaptive response Virus cleared, then memory
98
Give examples of acute infection, including those which are fatal and accidental pathogenesis
Colds and influenza Death→ smallpox- variola virus (Viral growth factors induce proliferation of the skin resulting in pox) Dengue haemorrhagic fever (leakage of blood plasma from the capillaries) Accidental pathogenesis→ poliovirus (faecal-oral transmission. Neurovirulent virus infects motor neurons causing paralysis) Rubella (Mild rash except in early stage foetus where virus has strong tropism for dividing neural tissue= deafness, eye abnormality, congenital heart disease)
99
What is a persistent viral infection? How do viruses do this?
Chronic infection with low-level replication of viruses in tissues which regenerate e.g. Papillomavirus in warts, hepatitis B and C Evading immune system surveillance: MHC downregulation, compensation for lost MHC class I, HCMV cytomegalovirus. Infecting tissues with reduced immune surveillance
100
Explain the process of latency in herpes simplex virus
1) Primary site of infection: productive infection of epithelial cells. Infection by retrograde transport 2) Secondary site of infection and site of latent infection: sensory neuron 3) Site of recurrent infection: productive infection of epithelial cells
101
How do viruses lead to oncogenesis?
May encode oncogenes Interfere with the cell cycle in order to enhance their own repliation Papilloma viruses encode inhibitors of tumour suppressor p53, E6 and E7 genes forcing the cell into S phase
102
Give examples of oncoviruses and the cancer they cause
HTLV-1 causes adult leukaemia Hepatitis B and C cause hepatocellular carcinoma (Hepadnavirus utilises a reverse transcription step in it's replication cycle) Epstein-Barr virus causes Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (In most, causes a lytic infection in childhood or infectious mononucleosis in young adulthood and then remains latent in B cells. Passed on in saliva)
103
What affects the outcome of a virus?
``` Virus sequence Virus load Host immune response/status Host co-morbidity Co-infections Other medications Host genetics Host age/gender ```
104
What predisposing co-morbidities lead to severe influenza?
``` Asthmatics and respiratory viruses Obesity Immunosuppression Immundeficiency Eldery Diabetes mellitus Pregnancy ```
105
What is the function of HIV integrase?
An enzyme found in retroviruses that permits the viral DNA to be integrated into the DNA of the infected cell
106
What is the replication cycle of HIV?
1) Fusion of the HIV cell to the host cell surface (HIV GP120 binds to CD4 receptor) 2) HIV RNA, reverse transcriptase, integrase and other viral proteins enter the host cell 3) Viral DNA is formed by reverse transcription 4) Viral DNA is transported across the nucleus and integrates into the host DNA 5) New viral RNA is used as genomic RNA, and to make viral proteins 6) New viral RNA and proteins move to cell surface and a new, immature HIV virus forms 7) The virus matures by protease releasing individual HIV proteins
107
What is the function of HIV protease?
An enzyme that hydrolyses or cuts proteins and is important in the final steps of HIV maturation
108
What are the properties of a good vaccine? (6)
Stimulates an effective immune response Safe- no adverse reactions Inexpensive to manufacture and distribute Stable Easy to administer Simple for manufacturer and regulatory authroities to control
109
How does herd immunity affect a disease?
if it is high enough the disease will die out
110
What are the phases of a clinical trial?
Phase 1→ Assesses safety- small number of adults Phase 2→ Assesses immune response and expands safety- includes all groups likely to have the vaccine Phase 3→ Protection studies- placebo, double blind trials
111
What phase of clinical trials is vaccine efficacy determined in?
Phase 3 trials
112
What is the formula to calculate vaccine efficacy?
Attack rate in vaccinated group/Attack rate in unvaccinated group
113
When do you calculate the herd effect of a vaccine?
After trials following introduction of the vaccine
114
What is the formula for herd effect?
1-(attack rate unvaccinated post-introduction/attack rate unvaccinated pre-introduction)
115
What does a vaccine formulation contain? (3)
1) Antigen (to stimulate the immune response to the target disease) 2) Adjuvant (to enhance and modulate the immune response) 3) Excipients (buffer, salts, saccharides and proteins to maintain the pH, osmolarity and stability of the vaccine plus preservative)
116
What types of antigen can be used in a vaccine? (5)
1) Live attenuated organisms 2) Killed whole organisms 3) Purified component vaccines 4) Conjugates 5) DNA vaccines
117
What are conjugate vaccines?
Carbohydrate chemically linked to immunogenic protein
118
In what situations are conjugate vaccines useful?
Where humoral immunity is required
119
What conjugate vaccines are licensed?
Hib vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae) Pneumococcal conjugates MenC conjugates Meningococcal A, C, W, Y conjugates
120
What are the advantages of live attenuated vaccines?
1) Provides rapid, broad, long-lived immunity 2) Cellular immunity 3) Immune system challenged at the right site
121
What are the disadvantages of live attenuated vaccines?
1) Complex 2) Hard to define and ensure safety 3) Difficult to license and control 4) May revert
122
Give an example of a killed whole cell vaccine and the versions of this vaccine available
Cholera vaccine - Killed whole cell parenteral vaccine - Killed whole cell oral vaccine - Dukoral (drink formulation)
123
What adjuvents are used in vaccines?
``` Delivery systems - mineral salts - surface active agents - synthetic microparticles - oil-water emulsions - liposomes Immune potentiators - toxins and lipids - nucleic acids - peptidoglycan - carbohydrates - peptides - cytokines and hormones ```
124
What is a prophylactic approach to virus control?
Preventing disease before the aetiological agent it acquired, by vaccination or giving drug before infection
125
What is a therapeutic approach to virus control?
Treating the disease after the host has been infected e.g. antiviral drugs
126
How is a live attenuated virus produced for a vaccine?
1) Pathogenic virus is isolated from a patient and grown in human cultured cells 2) The cultured virus is used to infect monkey cells 3) The virus acquires many mutations that allow it to grow well in monkey cells 4) The virus no longer grows in human cells and may be a candidate for a vaccine
127
For what viral infections is vaccination a successful strategy?
``` Influenza Poliovirus Rotavirus Shingles HIV vaccine? ( Thai trial RV-144) Ebola vaccine ```
128
Name two vaccines available for the flu
FluMist- delivered intranasally | Tamiflu- neuraminidase receptors
129
What disease has been eradicated using successful vaccination programme?
Smallpox
130
What drug is a successful antiviral agent?
Interferons- induces the hosts natural antiviral response
131
Why is acyclovir an effective antiviral agent?
It is only activated inside virus infected cells | It has a higher affinity for viral DNA polymerase than for host cell polymerase
132
What is Acyclovir's mechanism of action?
1) Acyclovir is converted by viral thymidine kinase to Acyclovir monophosphate 2) Acyclovir monophosphate is then converted by host cell kinase to acyclovir triphosphate 3) Acyclovir triphosphate competitively inhibits and inactivates viral DNA polymerases preventing viral DNA synthesis without affecting normal cellular processes It has a higher affinity for viral DNA polymerase than for host cell polymerase
133
Give examples of targets for antiviral agents and the associated drug
1) Fusion- Amantadine 2) Protein synthesis- Amantadine 3) RNA polymerase- Ribavirin 4) Release- Zanamivir, oseltamivir
134
Why was neuraminidase a target for antiviral agent research? Give drug examples
Neuraminidase (enzyme) destroys cell surface receptors. Inhibiting it inhibits virus spread e.g. Sialic acid, Relenza, Tamiflu
135
How do HIV antiretrovirals work?
Allosteric inhibitors Integrase inhibitors Entry inhibitors Protease inhibitors
136
What is antigenic drift?
A mechanism for variation in viruses that involves the accumulation of mutations within the genes that code for antibody-binding sites. vaccines need to be updated every year to accommodate this
137
What is antigenic shift?
The process by which two or more different strains of a virus, or strains of two or more different viruses, combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens of the two or more original strains.
138
What are arboviruses? Give examples
Viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors | e.g. Yellow fever, Dengue, West Nile, chikingunya
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What is the vector of West Nile virus?
Culex tarsalis
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What is the SARS virus? How has it spread?
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus- zoonotic infection Large (30kb) positive sense RNA genome. Envelope spike protein. Receptor is human ACE-2 protein Virus isolated from masked palm civets and raccoon dogs is almost identical S protein is highly plastic and can adapt to different receptors overcoming host range barriers
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What is MERS?
Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome | A zoonotic infection from camels- receptor DPP4 expressed in the lungs
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What was the mechanism behind the swine flu outbreak?
``` H1N1 was already present in human population Antigenic shift (co-infected cells within a host). Pigs mixing the strains of virus created a more virulent strain ```