Microbiology Flashcards
What is virulence?
the capacity of a microbe to cause damage to the host
What are virulence ffactors?
The factors responsible for the variation in virulence within and between species
What is adhesin?
enables binding of the organism to host tissue
What is invasin
enabled the organism to invade a host cell/tissue
what is impedin?
enables the organims to avoid host defense mechanisms
What is aggressin?
causes damage to the host directly
What is modulin?
induces damage to the host indirectly
Where is S.aureus found on the body?
anterior nares and perineum
What skin diesases can Staph. aureus cause?
rash; folliculitis; carbuncle; impetigo; abscess; scalded skin syndrome
What do adhesins bind to?
extracellular matrix molecules that are present on cell surfaces
Give 2 examples of adhesins?
fibrinogen-binding
collagen-binding
What disease does collagen-binding factor allow Staph. aureus to cause?
osteomyelitis
Do all Staph. aureus have all virulence factors?
No
What is the purpose of hte capsule?
a thick polysaccharide layer that allows bacteria to evade and hide from the immune system
What is a toxinoses?
It is a disease that isn’t caused by the bacteria itself but by the toxin it produces
What is a superantigen?
Doesn’t bind directly to MHC class 2 complex but binds outside conventional binding groove which causes a cytokine storm and inappropriate immune response
Give an example of a superantigen
TSST-1
What disease does TSST-1 cause?
Toxic Shock Syndrome
What are the symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome?
fever
diffuse macular rash and desquamation
hypotension
more than three organs involved
What does Panton- Valentine Leukocidin do?
specific toxicity for leukocytes so stop immune system working
What conditions is PVL associated with?
recurrent furunculosis
sepsis/ necrotising fasciitis
necrotising pneumonia
Why do antibiotics fail in the treatment of necrotising penumonia?
The toxin is causing the disease not the bacteria and the antibitocs do not target the toxin
Describe Streptococci
gram positive cocci
chains
coagulase negative
What skin infections does streptococcus pyogenes cause?
impetigo, cellulitis, necrotising fasciitis
If a microbe causes beta haemolysis, what does this mean the bacteria can do?
produce a protein that can destroy RBCs
What proteins are involved in helping Strep. pyogenes in adhesion?
M proteins
What superantigens cause Toxic shock like syndrome?
SpeB and SpeC
What allows both Staph. aureus and Strep. pyogenes to cause Toxic Shock?
Similar exo-proteins, common virulence factors and disease mechanisms
What is variation in disease and virulence the result of?
variation in genes
How do staphylococcus sp. appear on staining
gram positive cocci in clusters
How are staphylococcus differentiated?
coagulase test
Name an important coag negative staph.?
staph. epidermidis
What is the only coagulase positive staph.?
staph. aureus
Name 3 toxins produced by staph. aureus?
enterotoxin; SSSST; PVL
How do streptococcus sp. appear on gram staining?
gram positive cocci in chain
How are strep. sp. classified?
haemolysis
Name 2 bacterium that are alpha haemolytic strep.?
strep. pneumoniae and strep. viridans
What are the bacteria that are beta-haemolytic?
Group A, group B and group C, G
What bacteria is non-haemolytic?
enterococcus
how does partial haemolysis appear on a petri dish?
green
What enzyme do beta-haemolytic streptococci produce?
haemolysin
What is the purpose of having a dry skin surface?
dessication (drying out) of microbes
What is the purpose of sebum?
inhibit bacterial growth
What skin infections does staph. aureus cause?
boils and carbuncles cellulitis infected eczema impetigo wound infection staph. scalded skin syndrom
What skin infections does strep. pyogenes cause?
infected eczema impetigo ceullitis erysipelas (superficial form of cellulitis- raised red patches) nectrotising fasciitis
What antibiotic is given for strep. pyogenes?
penicillin
What is necrotising fasciitis?
bacterial infection spreading along fascial planes below skin surface leading to rapid skin destruction
What are the 2 types of nectrotising fasciitis?
type 1- mixed
type 2-group A strep
Where is tinea capitis found?
scalp
Where is tinea barbae found?
beard
where is tinea corporis found?
body