Microbiology Flashcards
What are virulence factors?
factors responsible for the variation in virulence
what is virulence?
the severity or harmfulness of a disease
Name the 5 virulence factors?
Adhesin Invasin Impedin Aggresin Modulin
What does adhesin do?
Enables organism to bind to host tissue
What does invasin do?
Enables organism to invade a host cell/tissue
What does impedin do?
Enables organism to avoid the host’s defence mechanism
What does aggresin do?
Causes direct damage to the host
What does modulin do?
Induces indirect damage to the host
What are super antigens?
antigens that cause an inappropriate immune response so there is a massive release of cytokines (cytokine storm)
What is TSST-1?
toxin shock syndrome toxin that is a super antigen
Which bacteria can carry TSST-1?
Staph aureus
What is PVL?
Panton-Valentine Leucocidin
What is PVL associated with?
MRSA - can cause severe skin infections like necrotising fasciitis
What is prevalence?
The proportion of a population affected by a disease at any given time
