Normal Flora Flashcards
What is Normal Flora, indigenous microflora, microbiome?
Organisms that aren’t causing disease. There presence is normal
Are viruses and parasites normal flora?
No
Are protozoa?
Yes some are
Why are they there?
They compete with the pathogens and they prevent their entry in through the mucosal cells. So they can’t get into the blood and system.
Anaerobes are?
Bacteria that grow without oxygen
What is an example of a clinical condition caused by normal flora?
Dental Carries - Whole body sepsis and endocarditis in the heart. (People having dental surgery and then dying from heart condition, because they have damaged the gums and somehow the bugs have got into the blood stream and gone to the heart).
Three symbiotic relationships?
Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism
What is Mutualism?
Both partners benefit.
What is commensalism?
One member benefits while the other is largely unaffected.
What is parasitism?
The organism benefits at the expense of the host.
Example of mutualism
E. coli in the gut produces vitamin K which is required for clotting
Example of commensalism
Organism of normal flora obtain food and shelter at the body sites
Example of parasitism
Scabies - the parasite obtains nutrients from the host which is harmed.
What are zoonoses?
Infections that can pass between animals and humans.
How can you get zoonotic disease?
Work with animals.
These diseases from contaminated water or food.
