Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And CF Flashcards
What is cystic fibrosis caused by?
It’s caused by a single faulty CFTR gene. This gene governs the movement of sodium and chloride ions across mucous membranes. Around 300 mutations can cause this gene to be faulty.
How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?
Using a sweat test
What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
Poor weight gain, chest infections, cough, steatorrhoea (fatty diarrhoea) because fats are not absorbed.
What size is pseudomonas?
0.5-3.0 micrometers
True or false, pseudomonas is resistant to temperature, high salt concentrations, weak antiseptics and many antibiotics?
True
Why does pseudomonas produce alginates?
To aid in biofilm production
Can pseudomonas grow in distilled water?
Yes because it has minimal nutritional requirements
What type of respiration does pseudomonas do?
Aerobic but it can adapt to use NO3
Is pseudomonas toxigenic?
Yes
Where is pseudomonas found?
Water, soil, plants, human and animal surfaces including human skin flora
What colour is the pyocyanin pigment produced by pseudomonas?
Green
Does pseudomonas produce spores?
No
True or false, pseudomonas is a gram positive microorganism?
False it is gram negative
Where does pseudomonas colonise is humans?
The mucous in the lower respiratory tract and grows to cover the epithelium
Why is the dose of oral antibiotics almost double the normal dose for CF patients?
Because antibiotics are primarily metabolised by the liver which is damaged by the CFTR mutation causing CF patients to metabolise and clear drugs much quicker.
