Unit 5 Flashcards
What is symbiotic relationship?
- Hosts and microbes live together long term
- indigenous microbiota
What is a commensalistic relationship?
- No benefits or harm to either organism
What is a mutualistic relationship?
Both host and microbes benefit
What is a parasitic relationships?
Microbes cause harm to host
What is a microbiome?
The collection of microorganisms that exists on the body
What are the three types of symbiotic relationship?
Commensalistic
Mutualistic
Parasitic
What does the relationship within our indigenous microbiota exist through?
- Co-evolution
- co-adaption
- co-dependency
What needs to happen for a micrograms to survive?
- Needs to stimulate a immune response
- Needs to colonize the host and acquire nutrients
What is infectivity?
- Organisms ability to establish an infection
- “contagious”
What is pathogenicity?
- Ability of an organism to cause disease
- qualitative trait
What is virulence?
-Extent of damage and pathology caused by an organism when it infects a host
-quantitative trait
How does virulence factors increase an organisms pathogenicity?
① Organisms ability to establish itself on or in the host
② invade or damage host tissue
③ evade host-immune response
Describe endotoxins
- The lipid A portion of LPS in gram-negative cell walls
- powerful stimulator of cytokine release
- complement activator, which forms anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, which causes vasodilation and increased vasopermeability
Describe exotoxins
- Potent toxic proteins released from living bacteria (mostly gram-positive)
- neurotoxins, cytotoxins, enterotoxins
- known as most potent molecules to harm living organisms
- extremely immunogenic
- induce production of protective antibodies
- may act like superantigen
What is virulence factor?
Bacterial properties that determine whether an organism is pathogenic and able to cause disease
What is necessary for organisms to be pathogenic?
-needs to possess genetic determinants that allow for production of either the structural components or the extracedular products that contribute to it virulence
What are plasmids?
- self-replicating extra-chromosomal DNA molecules that are located in the bacteria’s cytoplasm
- contain limited number of genes
What are bacterial cells classified as?
Prokaryotic cells
What are human cells classified as?
Eukaryotic cells
What are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
- P → bacterial chromosomes are found in bacterial cytoplasm. E→ enclosed in membrane-bound nucleus
- P→ bacteria cell wall is outermost feature. E → plasma membrane is outermost feature -
- P → cell wall contains alototenymes
What is the primary component that provides shape and rigidity of bacterial cells?
Peptidoglycan
What are some important components of prokaryotic cells that affect virulence factor?
- Pili → adherence to host cells, resistance to phagocytosis
- flagella → adherence to host cells; motility
- capsule→ block phagocytosis, antibody attachment, C’
What are the two variations of the bacterial cell wall?
- Positive gram
- negative gram
Which variation of bacteria contains lipopolysaccharide layer (LPS)?
Gram-negative
What are the 3 components of LPS?
- outer core polysaccharide
- inner core polysaccharide
- lipid A
How does the capsule of bacteria contribute to the organisms ability to resist innate and adaptive immune responses?
① block the attachment of antibodies
② inhibit activation of complement
③ act as a decoy when capsular material is released into the surrounding host environment
What is the most important feature of the capsule?
Blocking phagocytosis by WBCs
What cytokines are produced by endotoxins?
IL-1
IL-6
IL-8
TNF
PAF (produces prostaglandins and leukotrienes)
What are two defenses against bacteria ?
Innate defenses
Adaptive defenses
Describe innate defenses against bacteria
- intact skin and mucosal surfaces serve as structural barriers
- antibacterial defense peptides are lysozyme, defensins, ribonuclease
- complement proteins, cytokines, acute-phase reactants
- recognition of PAMPs by PRRs such as TLRs
What is the function of a lysozyme?
Destroys the peptidoglycan found in the cell wall of bacteria
What is the function of a ribonuclease?
Destroys RNA and have antimicrobial and antiviral activities
What are the 3 classes of defensins?
Alpha
Beta
Theta
Describe alpha defensins
- produced by neutrophils, certain macrophages, and paneth cells in the small intestine
- disruptthe microbial membrane
Describe beta defensins
- Produced by neutrophils, and epithelial cells lining the bronchial tree and genitourinary system
- increased resistance of epithelial cells to colonization
What is PAMPs?
- Structural patterns consisting of carbohydrates, nucleic acids or bacterial peptides
- recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed on cells of the innate immune system
What occurs when PRR engages with appropriate PAMP?
① triggers release of immune mediators such as cytokines and chemokines
② boosts production of various defensins and proteins
③initiates phagocytosis
Describe adaptive defenses for bacteria
- antibody production→ binding C’, osponization, neutralization of bacterial toxins
- cell-mediated immunity → CD4 Tcells produce cytokines that induce inflammation; cytotoxic T lymphocytes attack host cells that contain intracellular bacteria
- uses granulosomes to prevent spread
What is the main defense against bacteria in adaptive immunity?
Antibody production
What is the binding of antibodies to invading bacteria referred to as?
Osponization
What mechanisms do bacteria use to inhibit the NE immune response?
① avoiding antibody
② blocking phagocytosis
③ inactivating the complement cascade
④ blocking digestion
⑤ inhibiting chemotaxis
⑥ cleaving IgA
What mechanisms do microorganisms use to resist digestion?
- Block fusion of lysosome granules with phagosomes after being engulfed by the phagocyte
- production of extra cellular products after bacteria is phagocytized
- block action of complement
What are some laboratory detection tests of bacterial infection?
① culture of causative agent
② microscopic examination
③ detection of bacterial antigens
④ molecular detection of bacterial DNA or RNA
⑤ serology
Describe cultures of causative agent
- Grow on broth or solid media
- major means of diagnosis, but may take time or may not be possible
Describe microscopic examination for bacteria
- Uses gram stain or special stains
What tests are for detection of bacterial antigens
rapid testing done by:
- ELISA
-LFA
-LA
Describe molecular detection of bacterial DNA or RNA
- Can obtain results in a few hours with PCR
Describe serology testing for bacteria
- Detects antibodies to bacterial antigens
- to detect and confirm when options are not available
- to diagnose infections with nonspecific symptoms
- current infection indicated by IgM,high titer of IgG, or fourfold risein antibody
- to determine a past exposure to an organism
- to assess reactivation or re-exposure
What do the results of a serology test look Iike when a past exposure to an organism is present?
IgM-
IgG+
What are the disadvantages of serology testing for bacterial infection?
- Delay between start of infection and production of antibodies
- low antibody production by immunosuppressed patients
What are disadvantages of culturing for causitive agents?
- Several bacterial pathogens that don’t have cultures available
- may take too long
- some organisms are difficult to grow
- some organisms present a danger to start it handled improperly
Describe gram stain
- Gram-positive bacteria stains purple with crystal violet
- gram negative bacteria stains pink with safranin
Why are LA and LFA assays advantageous in bacterial antigen defection?
- easily performed
- low cost
- rapid turnaround time
What is the most widely known molecular technology?
PCR
Describe streptococci structure
- are gram positive bacteria
- spherical, ovoid or lancet shaped organisms that are catalase negative and are often seen in pairs or chains
- divided into groups or serotypes on the basis o certain cell wall components, including two major proteins known as M and T proteins
- interior to the protein layer is the group-specific carbohydratethat divides streptococci into 20 defined groups, designated A-H and K-V ( known as Lancefield groups
- some strains possess a hyaluronic and capsule outside of cell wall
Describe streptococci
- Transmitted person to person
- additional virulence factors include exoantigens or exotoxins, proteins are secreted by the bacterial cells as they metabolizes during the course of streptococcal infections
- detection of host antibodiesto exotoxins is important in the diagnosis of sequalae such as glomerulonephritis and acute rheumatic fever
In streptococci, What exoantigens or exotoxins are antibodies produced for?
- Streptolysin O
-DNase B - hylauroniadase
- nictinamide adenine dinucleotidase
- streptokinase
What is another name for s. pyogenes?
Group A streptococcus (GAS
Describe serotyping for GAS
- Used to identify a particular strain of GAS
-involves ID of the M protein antigens by precipitation with type-specific sera
What are disadvantages of serotyping?
- Limited availability of typing sera
- new M proteins do not react with anti-sera
- difficulty interpreting results
What is the most common and ubiquitous pathogenic bacteria?
GAS
What are virulence factors of GAS?
L-The M protein
- has net-negative charge at the amino terminal end that helps to inhibit phagocytosis
- M protein limits deposition of C3 on the bac terial surface (diminishing complement activation)
What are clinical manifestations of pus-forming acute group A streptococcal infection (GAS)?
- Pharyngitis (“strep throat”)
- pyoderma (impetigo or skin infection)
What are the clinical manifestations non-pus forming group A streptococcial (GAS) infection?
- scarlet fever
- toxic shock syndrome
- necrotizing fasciitis,
What is non-pus forming strep A treated with?
Antibiotics
What are the two major sites of strep A infection?
- Upper respiratory tract
- the skin
What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?
- Fever
- chills
- severe sore throat
- headache
- tonsillar exudates
- petechial rash on the soft palate, and
- anterior cervical lymphadenopathy
Describe impetigo
- Most common skin infection
- vesicular lesions on extremeties that become pustular and crusted.
Besides lesions, what are other symptoms of impetigo?
- Otitis media
- erysipelas
- cellulitis
- puerperal sepsis
- sinusitis
Describe Scarlet fever
- Usually associated with pharyngeal infections
- initially appears on the neck and chest then spreads over the body
- results from infection with strep Athat elaborates SpeA and SpeC ( can act as superantigens
What are symptoms of scarlet fever?
- Fever of 101°F or higher
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- abdominal pain
- rash
Describe necrotizing fasciitis
- May occur when Strep A
- such infection invades the muscles in the extremities or the trunk
- exotoxins produced by s. pyogenes cause rapid infection deep in fascia
Describe sequelae
- Conditions that are consequence of a previous disease or injury.
- results from the host response to infection
What are the two serious sequelae that could be developed from strep A?
- Acute rheumatic fever
- poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
Describe acute rheumatic fever
- develops 1-3 weeks after pharyngitis or tonsillitis in 2% to 3% of infected individuals
-most likely caused by immune responses to streptococcal antigens that cross-react with human heart tissue - only follows upper respiratory tract infections
Describe post streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- May follow strep infection of the skin or pharynx
- damages glomeruli
- deposits of immune complexes containing streptotococcal antigens in glomeruli
- characterized by damage to the glomeruli in the kidneys
- impaired because glomerular filtration rate is reduced
What are the symptoms acute rheumatic fever?
- Fever
- joint pain
- inflammation of heart
What are the symptoms of post streptococcal glomerulonephritis?
- Hematuria
- proteinuria
- edema
- hypertension
- malaise
- backache
- abdominal discomfort
- impairmentin renal function
What laboratory tests are run for suppurative strep A?
- Culture on sheep blood agar
-rapid assays to detect strep A
Describe culture on sheep blood agar for suppurative strep A.
- Small translucent colonies surrounded by clear zone of beta hemolysis
What are the rapid assays used to detect suppurative strep A?
- Strep screen
- LFA ( largely replaced EIAs and LA asssay)
- assays are easy to perform
- allow for single sample testing
- more sensitive
- require 2-5 minutes of hands on time
- cultured should be ran if rapid assays are negative
Describe serological detection of strep A sequelae
Antistreptolysin O (ASO) test
- classic hemolytic method for determining the ASO tier was the first test developed to measure streptococcal antibodies
- based on the ability of patient antibodies to neutralize the hemolytic activity of streptolysin O
-an ASO titer greater than 166 Todd units is considered a positive test
What are the serological detection test of nonsupprative strep A
- Antistreptolysin O (ASO)
- anti-DNase B
- streptozyme test
Describe antistreptolysin O (ASO) test of nonsupprative strep A
- nephelomatic methods currently used that measure ‘ light scatter produced by immune complexes containing streptolysin antigen
- titer is elevated in 85% of patients with acute rheumatic fever
- does not increase in patients with skin infections
- automatic and rapid
-titer increases within 1-2 weeks after infection and peaks between 3 to 6 weeks after initial symptoms
Describe anti-DNase B test of nonsuppurative strep A
- Produced by both rheumatic fever and impetigo patients
- tested by EIA and nephelomatic methods
- useful in patients suspected of having glomerulonephiritis preceded by skin infection
- highly specific for strep A
- if anti-DNase antibodies are present→ they neutralize reagent DNase B, which prevents it from depolymerizing DNA
- tubes are graded by color, 4+indicating intensity of color unchanged and 0 being complete color loss
Describe the streptozyme test
- A slide agglutination screening test for the detection of antibodies steptococoal antigens
- sheep RBCs are coated with the 5 antibodies
- hemagglutination is a positive test result
- positive in 95% of patients with acute phase post streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Detects antibodies to five streptococcal products:
-ASO
-anti-hyaluronidase (AHase)
-anti-streptokinase (ASKase)
-anti-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide ( anti-NAD)
-anti-DNase B