Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria Flashcards
What is the shape of Staphylococcus?
Spherical
What is the arrangement of Staphylococcus?
Clustered
Is staphylococci species salt sensitive or salt tolerant?
Salt tolerant
Staphylococci have the ability to tolerate the salt deposited on human skin by ______
Sweat glands
What are the 2 species of Staphylococcus that are most associated with staphylococcal diseases in humans?
- S. aureus
- S. epidermidis
Which species of Staphylococcus is more virulent?
S. aureus
Which species of Staphylococcus can be an opportunistic pathogen?
S. epidermidis
What are opsonins?
Antibodies that enhance phagocytosis
How does protein A interfere with normal antibody binding?
Binds to the stems of IgG antibodies
Protein A binding ______ opsonization
Inhibits
What effect does the enzyme coagulase of S. aureus have upon the soluble blood protein fibrinogen?
Converts it into insoluble fibrin
Insoluble fibrin forms ______
Blood clots
Only ______ synthesizes coagulase
S. aureus
What are the functions of the slime layers produced by S. aureus and S. epidermidis? (3)
- Inhibition of chemotaxis
- Inhibition of endocytosis
- Attachment of staphylococcus to artificial surfaces
Staphylococcal food poisoning is considered to be ______
Intoxication
How are commonly affected foods associated with staphylococcal food poisoning most often contaminated?
Bacteria from human skin
What effect does warming or reheating of contaminated foods have upon the enterotoxin that causes staphylococcal food poisoning?
Inactivates enterotoxins
What are the manifestations of staphylococcal food poisoning? (4)
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
When do the symptoms of staphylococcal food poisoning typically appear?
4 hours
What is the relationship between exfoliative toxins and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Release of exfoliative toxins into the bloodstream causes the epidermis to peel off
What specific effect do staphylococcal exfoliative toxins have upon the epidermis?
Dissolution of epidermal desmosomes
______ create an intercellular bridge proteins that hold cells together
Desmosomes
Which is the more serious: staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome or secondary bacterial infections?
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
Describe impetigo
Small, flattened, red patches on the face and limbs
In what type of people is impetigo most common in?
Children with not fully developed immune systems
What are the manifestations of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome? (5)
- Rash
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Hypotension
- Loss of sheets of skin
Describe the nature of the staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST)
Potentially fatal systemic infection
What are the functions of superantigens? (2)
- Release of cytokines
- Hyper inflammatory response
When does staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome become fatal?
When hypotension deprives the brain, heart, or vital organs of oxygen
Why is staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome associated with super-absorbent Rely brand tampons?
They promote the growth of S. aureus
What is the aerotolerance of Streptococcus?
Anaerobic
What is the shape of Streptococcus?
Chains
Antibody-based classification is known as ______ classification
Serological
In Lancefield classification, streptococci is divided into groups based on …
Group A carbohydrate antigens
What is hemolysis?
Lysis of RBCs
What is a-hemolysis?
Partial lysis
What is b-hemolysis?
Complete lysis
What is the causative agent of group A Streptococcus?
S. pyogenes
What type of hemolysis is characteristic of Streptococcus pyogenes?
b-hemolysis
What are the manifestations of group A streptococcal pyrogenic toxins? (3)
- Fever
- Rash
- Shock
What are the 2 main structural features that enable cells of S. pyogenes to evade phagocytosis?
- M protein
- Hyaluronic acid capsule
M protein is a membrane localized protein that interferes with ______
Opsonization
What is the function of the hyaluronic acid capsule?
Camouflages bacteria from WBCs
Where are the genes for Group A streptococcal pyrogenic toxins found?
Temperate bacteriophages
What is pharyngitis?
A sore throat
What is the causative agent of strep throat?
Streptococci
Why does scarlet fever develop in only some cases of streptococcal pharyngitis?
Occurs in infections involving a lysogenized strain of S. pyogenes
What role do streptococcal pyrogenic toxins play in scarlet fever?
They trigger a diffuse rash
Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxins and streptococcal pyrogenic toxins are both ______
Superantigens
What is the causative agent of rheumatic fever?
S. pyogenes
What type of response is rheumatic fever?
Autoimmune response
What is the causative agent of necrotizing fasciitis?
S. pyogenes