Molecular Basis of Bacterial Virulence

Question 1

What are virulence factors?

Answer 1

Specific components of pathogens that cause disease?

Question 2

Give an example of a virulence factor

Answer 2

toxins
surface receptors
immunoevasion

Question 3

Define virulence

Answer 3

Capacity of a microbe to cause damage to the host

Question 4

What does the virulence factor adhesin do?

Answer 4

Enables binding of the organism to host tissue

Question 5

What does the virulence factor impedin do?

Answer 5

Enables the organism to avoid host defence mechanisms

Question 6

What does the virulence factor aggressin do?

Answer 6

Causes damage to the host directly

Question 7

Name some important virulence factors exhibited by Staph Aureus?

Answer 7

Fibrinogen binding protein
Leukocidin (PVL)
TSST-1 toxin

Question 8

What is leukocidin and what does it do?

Answer 8

staph aureus virulence factor that kills leukocytes

Question 9

What does a nosocomial infection mean?

Answer 9

an infection originating in hospital

Question 10

Skin symptoms of a staph aureus infection?

Answer 10

stye, boil, carbuncle, impetigo, wound from needle, rash (SSS)

Question 11

Chest symptoms of a staph aureus infection?

Answer 11

Endocarditis, pneumonia

Question 12

GU symptoms of a staph aureus infection?

Answer 12

Bladder infection, TSS

Question 13

GI symptoms of a staph aureus infection?

Answer 13

sickness, diarrhoea

Question 14

Define carbuncle

Answer 14

a red, swollen, and painful cluster of boils that are connected to each other under the skin

Question 15

Define folliculitis

Answer 15

an infection of the hair follicle causing red spots with a surface pustule

Question 16

Name the 2 types of adhesin

Answer 16

Collagen binding

Fibrinogen binding

Question 17

Name the main toxin associated with toxic shock syndrome

Answer 17

TSST-1

Question 18

Symptoms of strep pyogenes

Answer 18

sore throat
rash
cellulitis
kidney problems
rheumatic fever
impetigo

Question 19

Most common location and population affected by impetigo

Answer 19

Face

Children

Question 20

What happens in necrotising fasciitis?

Answer 20

Strep A penetrates mucous membrane and develops in a lesion, destroying connective tissue