virulence factors and disease timeline

Question 1

what is a virulence factor? what units imply how strongly a factor it is?

Answer 1

the ability to cause disease.

ID50 units

lower = more virulent

Question 2

what are endotoxins and exotoxins. give some examples of an exotoxin.

Answer 2

endotoxin is a toxin secreted from the cell membrane of a gram negative bacteria

an exotoxin is a toxin secreted from within a bacterial cell wall. examples include S.aureus and P.gingivalis

Question 3

what is the stages of infection?

Answer 3

incubation period

prodromal period

illness period

period of decline

period of convalescence

Question 4

what is the incubation period?

Answer 4

acute disease first infects

no symptoms as not enough particles

pathogen is replicating

Question 5

what is the prodromal period?

Answer 5

pathogen replicating

some basic symptoms

Question 6

what is the period of illness?

Answer 6

most severe signs and symptoms

Question 7

what is the period of decline

Answer 7

decrease in pathogen number and also signs and symptoms

susceptibility to secondary infections is high due to immune response weakened from primary infection

Question 8

what is the period of convalescence?

Answer 8

return to normal feeling and function unless permanent damage has occurred