The Genitourinary System PT1 Flashcards
Q: What are the main components of the urinary system?
The genitourinary system comprises the urinary system and the reproductive system.
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, responsible for filtering blood, producing urine, and excreting waste.
The reproductive system varies between sexes:
- In males, it includes the testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and penis.
- In females, it consists of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina.
Q: What are the differences between the male and female genitourinary systems?
Male:
-testes (which produce sperm and testosterone)
- the epididymis (for sperm storage and maturation)
- the vas deferens (sperm transport)
- seminal vesicles
- prostate gland (fluid production for semen)
- penis (for delivering sperm and urination).
Female:
- ovaries (which produce eggs and hormones)
- fallopian tubes (for egg transport and fertilization)
- the uterus (which houses and nourishes a fetus)
- the cervix (which allows passage between the uterus and vagina)
- the vagina (for receiving sperm and serving as a birth canal).
normal microbiota in this system
- maintaining health by preventing the colonization of harmful pathogens
- modulating the immune response
- maintaining an acidic environment in the vagina to inhibit pathogen growth.
In females, lactobacilli are predominant in the vagina, producing lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide to create a protective barrier against infections.
Q: What characterizes the microbiome of the male genitourinary tract?
A:
Urine Flushing: Bladder and urethra are continuously flushed by urine.
=> The environment is generally drier and less hospitable to microbial growth compared to females.
==> Microbiota Levels: Very low number of normal microbiota in males.
Resident Microbes: Consists of skin microbes like Staphylococcus.
Q: What characterizes the microbiome of the female genitourinary tract?
A:
The reproductive tract has a moist environment, particularly the vagina
-> Complex and dynamic normal microbiota.
Dominant Species: Lower reproductive tract dominated by Lactobacillus species.
Defense Role: Provides non-specific defense through:
Low pH from lactic acid.
Production of bacteriocins.
Competition for nutrients and binding sites.
Q: What disease does Neisseria gonorrhoeae cause and what are its symptoms?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
* Gram negative diplococci bacteria, can infect the urethra, cervix, throat, anus, and eyes
–> Obligate human pathogen (only replicate inside the cells of the human body)
Transmission = sexual contact with penis, vagina, mouth or anus OR from mother to child during vaginal childbirth
Disease: Gonorrhea
Symptoms: asymptomatic (female and male)
If appear ==
Men:
- penile discharge
- irritation or pain when
urinating
- anal discharge or discomfort
- conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- eye inflammation
Women:
- unusual Vaginal discharge
- pelvic pain
- intermenstrual bleeding (irregular vaginal bleeding)
- pain when urinating
- anal discharge or discomfort
- conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- eye inflammation
virulence mechanisms of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
What features it has, structure/function
1. Type IV pili on Neisseria gonorrhoeae
–> hair-like structures on the surface of this bacteria
= facilitate adhesion to host cells to establish infection
= Type IV pili can do Immune Evasion : can change surface proteins to avoid detection by the host immune system or switch expression of pili on and off to adapt to different environments within the host..
= pili facilitate the uptake of DNA from the environment, allowing genetic exchange and contributing to genetic diversity and adaptation, including antibiotic resistance.
- Has IgA Protease
–> an enzyme that specifically targets and cleaves immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies.
= Immune Evasion: By cleaving IgA antibodies, directly neutralizes a key component of the immune defense.
==> reduces the ability of the host to clear the infection, allowing the bacteria to invade tissues more effectively.
= Tissue Invasion: The breakdown of IgA facilitates deeper penetration and invasion into mucosal tissues. - PorB (Outer Membrane Protein B)
–> major outer membrane protein that plays a role in nutrient uptake and interacts with host cell membranes.
= Immune Evasion: PorB can interfere with the host’s immune system
==> helps suppress host cell apoptosis and modulates immune signaling pathways, aids in bacterial survival within the host.
= Membrane Invasion: PorB facilitates bacterial entry into epithelial cells, promoting bacterial colonization and persistence.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae its impact on HIV susceptibility
- Gonorrhea causes inflammation in the urogenital tract
==> leading to the recruitment of immune cells, including CD4+ T cells (T helper cells/ target cells for HIV)
=> increased presence of these cells at the infection site can enhance the likelihood of HIV transmission. - The damage to mucosal surfaces caused by gonorrhea can compromise the physical barriers that protect against pathogens, including HIV
==> making it easier for the virus to enter the bloodstream. - infection stimulates the production of cytokines and chemokines
=> increase the activation and proliferation of HIV target cells, facilitating viral entry and replication.
Q: What disease does Chlamydia trachomatis cause and what are its symptoms?
Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial parasite, only found in humans
Transmission : Sexually transmitted, can also be transmitted from mother to child during vaginal childbirth
Intracellular bacteria are those that live and replicate inside the cells of their host.
= can evade certain components of the host’s immune system, such as antibodies and some phagocytic cells that target pathogens outside cells
An obligate intracellular bacterium cannot survive or reproduce outside of its host cell. It relies entirely on the host cell’s environment for nutrients and energy, as it often lacks the necessary machinery to perform these functions independently.
Disease: Causes chlamydia.
Q: What disease does Treponema pallidum cause and what are its symptoms?
Gram-negative bacteria, distinct spiral cell
shape, motile
Sexually transmitted, can also be transmitted
from mother to child during pregnancy and
vaginal childbirth (congenital syphilis)
Disease: Syphilis
4 stages and their Symptoms: primary, secondary,
latent, tertiary (neurologic & psychological)
3. latent stage = the hidden stage, where there are no visible signs or symptoms.
Can last for years, during which the disease remains in the body without causing noticeable symptoms
- tertiary stage = Can affect multiple organ systems
- Neurologic Effects: Neurosyphilis, which can cause headaches, altered behavior, movement problems, paralysis, and dementia.
- Cardiovascular Effects: Cardiovascular syphilis can result in aortic aneurysms or heart valve disease.
- Psychological Effects: Can lead to severe psychological issues, including cognitive decline and personality changes
Flashcard 4: Trichomonas vaginalis
Q: What disease does Trichomonas vaginalis cause and what are its symptoms?
protozoan parasite, meaning it is a single-celled eukaryotic organism// only found in humans, with no animal reservoirs.
Disease: Trichomoniasis
Symptoms:
Women: Itching, burning, redness, and soreness of the genitals; discomfort with urination; a thin discharge with an unusual smell.
Men: Often asymptomatic, but can cause irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation.
Why Are Many Gonorrhea Cases Asymptomatic?
Stealth Entry with Antigenic Variation: Neisseria gonorrhoeae can change the proteins on its surface, making it difficult for the immune system to detect and respond to the infection.
Hiding Inside Cells – Particularly in Epithelial Cells: The bacteria can invade and live inside epithelial cells, evading detection by the immune system.
Location, Location, Location: Gonorrhea often infects areas that do not produce strong immune responses, such as the cervical canal in women and the urethra in men.
Higher Tolerance: Mucosal Surfaces: These surfaces are adapted to withstand constant exposure to microorganisms and are less likely to mount a robust inflammatory response.
More Noticeable Response: Inflammatory Response: When symptoms do appear, they are often due to the body’s inflammatory response to the infection, which can lead to pain and discharge.
Treatment Options for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE)
Penicillin, Tetracycline, Cefixime, Ceftriaxone: These antibiotics inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, causing the bacteria to burst and die.
Ciprofloxacin: This antibiotic inhibits DNA replication, preventing the bacteria from multiplying.
Azithromycin: This antibiotic inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit, preventing the bacteria from producing essential proteins.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE:
1. Genetic Variability and Horizontal Gene Transfer
==> Neisseria gonorrhoeae can rapidly acquire and exchange genetic material, including resistance genes, through horizontal gene transfer.
==> can undergo genetic mutations that confer resistance to antibiotics,
- Host Behavior: Misuse and Overuse of Antibiotics
=> Incorrect use of antibiotics, such as not completing prescribed courses or using antibiotics without medical supervision, can promote the development of resistant strains.
=> High rates of reinfection due to unprotected sexual activity and lack of partner notification and treatment can lead to the spread of resistant strains.
Chlamydia trachomatis Virulence Mechanisms
- Type III Secretion System (T3SS)
==> specialized protein delivery system used by Chlamydia trachomatis to inject effector proteins (bacterial proteins that alter host cell functions) directly into the host cell.
==> allows the bacteria to manipulate host cellular processes, facilitating bacterial entry, survival, and replication within the host cells.
=> can create a more favorable environment for bacteria own survival and reproduction. - TARP (Translocated Actin-Recruiting Phosphoprotein)
=> one of the effector proteins
- induces the reorganization of the host cell’s actin cytoskeleton
==> aiding in bacterial entry and the formation of an inclusion body where the bacteria can replicate safely.
- supports bacterial survival and protects it from immune detection. - Pgp3 (Plasmid Glycoprotein 3)
-> a protein associated with immune evasion.
- helps suppress the host immune response,
=> reducing the ability of the host to clear the infection.
- can interfere with normal immune signaling pathways
=> allowing the bacteria to persist within the host for extended periods.
Treatment Options Chlamydia infections
typically be cured with antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis
=> target either the 50S or 30S ribosomal subunits
=> effectively halting protein production necessary for bacterial growth.
– Antimicrobial resistance in Chlamydia trachomatis is not common but is a growing concern.
