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Week 2: Infection + Immune Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What is an infection?

A

An infection is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a body part or tissue, potentially leading to tissue injury and disease. It’s the pathological state resulting from being infected

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2
Q

Define pathogenicity.

A

Pathogenicity is a microbe’s ability to cause disease and is often used to describe or compare species

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3
Q

Define virulence.

A

Virulence is the degree of pathogenicity in a microorganism and is often used to describe or compare strains

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4
Q

What are the main types of microorganisms?

A

Saprophytes, parasites, pathogens, and non-pathogens

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5
Q

What are the sources of infection?

A

Humans (patients or carriers), animals, insect vectors (mechanical or biological), soil, water, and food

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6
Q

Describe the different types of human carriers.

A

Healthy carriers
Convalescent carriers
Temporary carriers
Contact carriers
Paradoxical carriers

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7
Q

Define convalescent carrier.

A

A person who had the disease, recovered, with no present signs/symptoms but can still can spread the disease to another person

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8
Q

What is a temporary carrier?

A

When the carrier state lasts for less than 6 months but can still spread while being asymptomatic

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9
Q

What is a contact carrier?

A

A person who acquires the microorganism due to close contact with the infected patient, usually seen in hospitals, clinics, etc

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10
Q

What are the two main modes of transmission?

A

Direct transmission and indirect transmission

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11
Q

Give examples of direct transmission.

A

Person-to-person contact (touching, biting, kissing, sexual intercourse, respiratory droplets that are wet) and transplacental transmission

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12
Q

What is direct transmission?

A

Infection from one host to another host without the help of air, food, water, etc.

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13
Q

What is indirect transmission?

A

Infection from one host to another host with the help of air, food, water, and other animals

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14
Q

Give examples of indirect transmission.

A

Airborne transmission, vehicle-borne transmission, and vector-borne transmission

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15
Q

What are the main causative agents of infection?

A

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions

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16
Q

Describe bacteria

A

Single-celled prokaryotes classified as Gram-positive or Gram-negative that release toxins such as exotoxins and endotoxins

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17
Q

What colour is gram-negative?

A

Red

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18
Q

What colour is gram-positive?

A

Purple

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19
Q

What is an exo-toxin?

A

An exotoxin is a toxic protein secreted by certain pathogenic bacteria into the surrounding environment. They can exert their toxic effects on the host even if the bacteria themselves are no longer in the host’s system. This occurs because the exotoxin can circulate in the bloodstream, or be taken up by cells, and cause damage or disruption to normal cellular processes
Usually tissue or organ-specific
Can be gram-positive or gram-negative

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20
Q

What is an endo-toxin?

A

endotoxins are released when the bacterial cell dies and disintegrates or during bacterial growth and division. The primary component of endotoxins is a molecule called lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is found in the outer membrane of these bacteria.

The effects of endotoxins on the body can be quite harmful and are often responsible for severe symptoms, especially in cases of bacterial infections ie: shock, LBP, fever etc.

Only gram-negative

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21
Q

Describe viruses.

A

Ultra-microscopic structures containing DNA or RNA, needing a host cell to replicate, and unaffected by antibiotics

Only occurs when normal inflammatory & immune responses fail

Once inside the host cell, the membrane breaks and releases genetic material causing the infection

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22
Q

Describe fungi.

A

Eukaryotic (have a cell wall), non-photosynthetic microorganisms, classified as yeasts or molds, that can cause mycotic infections

Yeast- doesn’t need oxygen
Mold- needs oxygen

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23
Q

Describe parasites.

A

An organism that lives on or in a host and benefits at the host’s expense. Parasites rely on their host for nutrients, shelter, and sometimes reproduction, often causing harm to the host in the process

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24
Q

What are the 2 types of an endo-parasite?

A

Protozoa: single-cell causing malaria
Helminths: Multi-cellular, causing roundworm, pinworm (kids) can be seen in southern states

25
What is an example of exo-parasite?
Scabies
26
Describe prions.
Proteins without genetic material that can become rogue agents and affect the structure of the brain or nervous system
27
What are some factors that can create a climate for infection?
Poor nutrition, stress, humidity, poor sanitation, crowded conditions, pollution, dust, medications, and hospitalization
28
What is the relationship between microbial virulence and host resistance?
Microbial infectivity is a result of the disturbance in the balance between microbial virulence and host resistance
29
What are the key factors related to virulence?
Invasive qualities, toxic qualities, presence of pili or fimbriae, and ability to avoid host defenses
30
What are bacterial virulence factors?
Factors that help bacteria to invade the host, cause disease, and evade host defenses. They include: adherence factors, invasion factors, capsules, exotoxins, endotoxins, enzymatic virulence factors, plasmids, bacteriophages, biofilms, and siderophores
31
What is commensal flora?
Microorganisms that play a critical role in human survival. They participate in metabolism, provide essential growth factors, protect against virulent microorganisms, and stimulate the immune response
32
What are the possible outcomes of exposure to an organism?
Either transient colonization, permanent colonization, or disease
33
What is a strict pathogen?
Strict pathogens are always associated with human disease
34
What is an opportunistic pathogen?
can cause disease when introduced into unprotected sites or in patients with defective immune systems
35
What are some ways to classify infections?
Endogenous/exogenous, primary/secondary, re-infection/recurrent/relapse, focal, cross, nosocomial, iatrogenic, inapparent/subclinical, atypical, and latent
36
What are some types of infectious diseases?
Bacteremia, viremia, fungemia, parasitemia, septicemia, endemic, epidemic, and pandemic
37
How can infections be prevented?
By breaking the chain of transmission, maintaining adequate hygiene, ensuring a sanitary environment, and providing health education
38
What is the chain of infection?
Causative agent Reservoir Port of exit Mode of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host
39
What are the objectives when breaking the chain of transmission?
To impede the establishment or deplete the reservoir of infectious organisms, disrupt the mode of transmission, block entry into the body, or inhibit the growth of or kill the microbe using antimicrobial drugs
40
What is immunopathology?
The study of disease states associated with underactivity and overactivity of the immune response
41
What are the four main types of immunopathological conditions?
Allergy/hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and cancer
42
What is Type I hypersensitivity?
An exaggerated immune response that can manifest as atopy (local allergy) or anaphylaxis (systemic reaction)
43
What is the mechanism of a Type I allergic reaction?
On first exposure, IgE antibodies are formed. Subsequent exposure causes degranulation and release of mediators
44
What are some common mediators of Type I hypersensitivity?
Histamine, serotonin, leukotriene, platelet-activating factor, prostaglandins, and bradykinin
45
What are some common Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions?
Hay fever, asthma, eczema, food allergy, drug allergy, and anaphylaxis
46
What is Type II hypersensitivity?
The reaction of foreign cell-fixed antigens with existing antibodies, leading to lysis of foreign cells
47
What are some examples of Type II hypersensitivity reactions?
Transfusion reactions, ABO blood group incompatibility, and Rh factor incompatibility in hemolytic disease of the newborn
48
What is Type III hypersensitivity?
Reaction of soluble antigens with antibodies and deposition of the resulting complexes in basement membranes of epithelial tissues
49
What are some examples of Type III hypersensitivity reactions?
Arthus reaction (localized dermal injury) and serum sickness (systemic injury)
50
What is Type IV hypersensitivity?
A delayed response involving T cells, such as the tuberculin skin test and contact dermatitis
51
What are the different classes of grafts?
Autograft, isograft, allograft, and xenograft
52
What is autoimmunity?
The immune system loses tolerance to autoantigens and forms autoantibodies and sensitized T cells against them
53
What are some examples of autoimmune diseases?
Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis
54
What are immunodeficiency diseases?
Conditions where components of the immune response system are absent
55
What are the two general categories of immunodeficiency diseases?
Primary immunodeficiency (congenital) and secondary immunodeficiency (acquired after birth)
56
Give examples of primary immunodeficiency diseases.
B-cell defects (Bryton's agammaglobulinemia), T-cell defects (DiGeorge syndrome), and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
57
What are some causes of secondary immunodeficiency?
Severe malnutrition, infection, organic disease, chemotherapy, or radiation. AIDS is the most common cause
58
Basic of autoimmunity
Genetic predisposition + environmental exposure

Pathology (12 decks)

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