Pathogenesis of Microbial Infection Flashcards
What is commensalism?
one organism benefits and the other derives, neither benefit nor harm
What is mutualism?
association which is beneficial to both organisms
What is parasitism?
One organism benefits at the expense of the other
What is normal flora?
Population of microorganisms that reside in the skin, mucous membranes and intestinal tract of healthy human body
What are the function of normal flora?
Helps development of mucosal immunity
Protects host from colonisation with pathogenic microbes
Aids in digestion of food
What are the 4 stages of infectious disease progression?
Incubation
prodrome
illness
recovery
What is a communicable disease?
one that can spread from host to host (contagious)
What can viral virulence cause?
Alter ability of virus to replicate
modify the hosts defence mechanisms
enable virus to spread
act as toxic proteins
