Skin microbiology Flashcards
Name the causes of skin disease
How does skin act as defence?
How does stimulation by superantigen e.g., staphylococcus sp. cause hypersensitivity reactions?
Staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) bind directly to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and T cell receptors to drive extensive T cell activation and cytokine release.
(The super antigens bypass normal process - leads to over activation)
Leading to massive cytokine release, causing a toxic shock due to subsequent over stimulation of numerous cytokine receptors. Or more local problems.
Give examples of microbial avoidance of defences
What is a commensal/resident flora?
can replicate on the skin and persist - normal to find and can be beneficial
What are nomad organisms?
colonise and reproduce on the skin for short times
What does transient mean?
Cannot replicate so stay for a short time
Give examples of some commensal bacteria found on the skin
Bacteria (e.g. staphylococcus sp., pseudomonas, proteus)
Yeast (malassezia sp.)
How do commensals prevent disease?
There are many commensals living on the skin that compete for habitable space, this prevents colonisation of the skin by pathogenic microbes or overgrowth of commensals.
Colonization by pathogenic microbes is often associated with low numbers of commensals or the skins physical integrity being compromised.
What is dysbiosis?
changes from balanced to unbalanced microflora
Give examples of resident bacteria found on canine skin
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus xylosus
Give examples of transient bacteria found on canine skin
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
S. aureus
Proteus mirabilis
Pseudomonas spp.
Give an example of a resident yeast found on canine skin
Malassezia
Give examples of resident bacteria found on feline skin
S. aureus
S. pseudintermedius
Give examples of transient bacteria found on feline skin
Proteus mirabilis
Pseudomonas spp.
Staphylococcus spp.
What factors can influence infection?
Virulent pathogen
Dysbiosis
Penetration through damage of skin by commensals or pathogens
What factors impact the cutaneous environment?
What are staphylococcal bacteria?
Gram +ve
Facultatice anaerobes
Coccoid
Commensals
Opportunistic
Explain the pathogenecity of staphylococcus sp.
What virulence factors may staphylococcus spp. have?