Micro 2 Flashcards
What kind of virus is rotavirus?
Reoviridae
- dsRNA genome - 11 segments
- most important cause of gastroenteritis in young children
- group A assoc. w/ human disease
What is orthoreovirus?
A member of reoviridae
Infects mammals, but not associated with serious disease in humans.
What cells do Rotavirus infect?
How long is incubation?
Tip of villi in sm. intestine
- as few as 10 particles can cause infection
- 1-4 days incubation period
Describe rotavirus pathogenesis
virus capsid proteins attach to glycolipid receptor on the apical enterocytes of sm. intestine villi.
- Damage to sodium and glucose absorptive mechanisms -> increased luminal H2O volume. Viral replication -> acute onset of vomiting and diarrhea
- Activation of intestinal nerves -> secretion of H2O
- Fluid accumulation in lumen of sm. intestine, 10-20 diarrheal episodes / day and severe dehydration
Describe rotavirus structure
Unenveloped, icosahedral, 3 layer protein capsid
Segmented dsRNA genome
capsid contains all enzymes needed for replication
VP4 receptor protein - binds glycolipid of host cell
What are the major coat proteins of rotavirus?
VP4 - outer coat - binds receptor (sialic acid / integrins)
VP7 - outer coat - stripped during endocytosis
VP6 - middle coat - major protein that is tested for in antibody titer
VP2 - inner coat
How is rotavirus infection diagnosed in a lab setting?
Presence of virus particles in feces early in illness
- immune electron micoscopy, ELISA, immunoassay
Rise in titer of Ab to VP6
What are the two most important viruses contributing to diarrheal illness in children?
Rotovirus (reoviridae)
Adenovirus
What type of genetic material is carried by Adenovirus?
dsDNA
What is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in older children and adults?
Norovirus
How is norovirus transmitted?
fecal-oral
also contaminated food: shellfish and contaminated water
How long is the Norovirus incubation period and how long does it remain contagious?
incubation: 12-48 hours
From onset of symptoms: highly contagious until at least 3 days after symptoms recede - infectious viral particles may be shed as long as 2 weeks after illness
Norovirus symptoms
Acute onset of vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, fever, chills, myalgia
symptoms resolve 24-48 hours after onset.
How is norovirus spread prevented?
Handwashing - soap and water (alcohol hand-gel is inadequate)
10% bleach to clean surfaces.
What family of viruses is norovirus from?
Calicivirus
What is norovirus genome?
ss+RNA
What virus families do Hepatitis viruses A-E belong to?
Hep A: Picornavirus Hep B: Hepadnavirus Hep C: Flavivirus Hep D: satellite virus - undefined classification Hep E: Hepevirus (Hep - E - virus)
Genomes of Hepatitis A-E
A: ssRNA B: dsDNA C: ssRNA D: ssRNA (-) E: ssRNA
Which Hepatitis viruses produce chronic illness?
B and C
D in the context of association with B (is not infective on its own)
What causes hepatic cellular carcinoma
Chronic viral infection is leading cause (HBV, HCV)
course of chronic illness is 25-50 years
Ultimate cause: constant inflammation and constant stimulation of cellular replacement -> mutation and tumor formation
What was the first successful recombinant vaccine for a human disease?
Hep B vaccine
How is HBV spread?
sexual contact and parenteral exposure
most adults clear infection - 5% do not -> chronic infection
–May be asymptomatic
Describe the HBV genome
Circular, partially double stranded DNA. Full length (-), 20-80% (+)
Describe the process of HBV replication
Genome is circular (-) DNA with partial (+) DNA. In nucleus, cellular DNApol -> full dsDNA
(-) DNA -> full length (+) RNA via host cell RNA pol II
(+) RNA is packaged in new core proteins
viral RNA/DNA dependent DNApol -> full length (-)DNA
(-)DNA copied by viral DNApol -> partial (+) DNA
HBsAg containing envelope acquired on exocytosis
How is HBV prevented / treated?
Recombinant vaccine
Interferon - alpha and/or inhibitors of HBV polymerase
These do not eliminate infection*
Describe Hep D’d genome and what it codes
Small (-)RNA genome (1.7kb)
codes one protein: delta antigen: RNA encapsidation
What is HDV superinfection?
Infection w/ HDV after host is already infected with HBV.
contrast w/ coinfection, where both acquired together
Superinfection -> high mortality (20%)
What family of viruses does HCV belong to?
Flavivirus
Describe HCVs genome
(+)ss linear RNA
How is HCV infection treated?
Combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin
-can eliminate infection, but IFNa has unpleasant side-effects
2 new drugs w/ this mix -> 70-80% cure rate
How is HCV transmitted?
Contaminated blood products
Injection drug use
Mother to child (uncommon)
sexual contact
what is the leading cause for liver transplant necessity?
HCV infection
What is the course if HAV infection in humans?
Initial infection in intestinal mucosa -> liver -> lymphoid cells
Virus is excreted in large volume (10^8 infective units/ gm feces) in feces.
no chronic infection leading cause of jaundice world wide
Where is HEV infection most common? Who is most severely effected?
Mostly in developing countries - drinking water contaminated w/ feces. May be carried by rats, pigs, deer.
Pregnant women - 20% mortality rate
What are M cells?
Found in mucus membranes of GI - antigen presenting cells
phagocytize bacteria and foreign particles and pass them to macrophages underlying the Mcell
What is MacConkey’s agar?
Selects for gram (-) organsisms
Bile salts and crystal violet inhibit gram (+) growth
pH indicator distinguishes between lactose fermenting (pink colonies) and non lactose fermenting organisms
3 types of secretory diarrhea and responsible organisms
Secretory Diarrhea: non-inflammatory, non-invasive
- Bacterial enterotoxigenic: Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae
- Bacterial neurotoxic: usually a preformed toxin is ingested: C.botulinum, B.cereus, S.aureus
- Non-inflammatory parasitic: G.lamblia, C.parvum
3 types of invasive inflammatory diarrhea and organisms responsible
- Bacterial cytotoxin caused inflammation: C.diff, EHECCCC
- Bacterial invasive infection: Shigella, EIEC, Salmonella
- Parasitic invasive: E.histolytica
Vibrio Cholerae: organisms of interest and characteristics
O1 and O139
Gram neg, oxidase pos, motile (single polar flagella), comma shaped rods
found in brackish water, fresh water ponds, can colonize shellfish
Two types of O1: Classic and El Tor
Classic - highly virulent, but does not survive freely in enviro well
El Tor - less virulent, but survives in environment for long periods
What are V.cholera’s virulence factors?
Motility - single polar flagellum
Adhesion - tcp pili (toxin co-regulated pili) and other adhesins - tight adhesion to intestinal epithelium
Cholera toxin
Describe Cholera toxin and its activity
AB type toxin (A is enzymatic, B is binding, consists if 5 identical units)
ADP ribosylating
B attaches to GM1 ganglioside, A1 is released to enter cell
A1 ADP-ribosylates Gs -> chronic activation of Gs -> massively increased cAMP -> hypersecretion of fluids, chloride ions, inhibition of Na absorption
End result is massive fluid loss
Describe the etiology / pathogenesis of cholera
ingestion of organism via contaminated water or food
10^8 organisms needed for infection - V.cholera sensitive to gastric acid
2-3 day incubation period, high replication
vomiting, high volume watery rice-water diarrhea no PMNs profound dehydration
How is Vibrio cholera identified in the lab?
Stool sample
Culture on TCBS (thiosulfate-citrate-bile salt-sucrose agar) - highly selective for vibrio species
Positive oxidase test
O antigens: O1 and O139 - assoc. w/ cholera toxin producing strains
5 classifications of E.coli and assoc. symptoms
ETEC (Enterotoxogenic): Watery d., cramps and low fever. Infants and travellers. Cytotoxins increase cAMP or cGMP
EAEC / EAggEC (Enteroadhesive): Persistent infant d., also AIDS pts. Sometimes gross blood. Low fever. Aggressive adherence to intestinal mucosa prevents fluid absorption
EPEC (enteropathogenic): copious watery d. w/ mucus in infants. Fever, N/V. Adhere and destroy epithelium of INTESTINE
EIEC (enteroinvasive): watery diarrhea then scant bloody stools. fever. invasion and destruction of epithelium of COLON
EHEC (enterohemorrhagic): watery d. then grossly bloody d. Hemolytic uremia (O157:H7). Cytotoxic verotoxin prevents protein synth.
What is ETEC and how is it identified
Enterotoxic E.coli - causes secratory diarrhea - traveler’s diarrhea, Montezuma’s revenge. Major cause of infant mortality worldwide.
ELISA or agglutination tests for the presence of toxins
DNA probes for LT and/or ST genes
What are the ETEC toxins?
LT - heat labile toxin - destroyed at 100deg C for 30 min, 75% similarity to cholera toxin (AB structure) and same mechanism (B binds GM1, A unit: ADP ribosylation of Gs -> increased cAMP or cGMP) new evidence: Type II secretion
ST - heat stable toxin - not destroyed at 100deg C for 30 min., family of small molecules. Bind membrane bound guanylate cyclase -> chronic elevation of cGMP -> fluid and electrolyte loss
note: both LT and ST are plasmid encoded
How is ETEC spread? What are symptoms?
contaminated food and beverages
most common in tropics and in young
Symptoms: N/V, weakness, dizziness, then watery diarrhea
How do ETEC adhere to a host?
Colonization Factor Adhesions (CFA) - plasmid encoded - allow binding to epithelium of sm. intestine
Bundle forming pilus - similar to Tcp pili of v.cholera
What is EPEC and how is it identified in the lab
Enteropathogenic E.coli: causes severe, often fatal, diarrhea in infants and children primarily in developing countries. Traveller’s diarrhea in adults.
Identified via ELISA and multiplex PCR
How does EHEC attach to host cells?
Bundle forming pilus - non-intimate attachment
Tir and intimin - closer, intimate attachment
-bacteria produce and secrete Tir (type III secretion), which embeds in host cell membrane and binds to bacterial intimin (in bacterial outer membrane), Tir interacts w/ actin cytoskeleton and forms pedestal-like structure beneath organism -> effacement: destruction of pili
Describe the etiology / pathogenesis of EPEC
Fecal - oral spread
Diarrhea not caused by toxin: caused by destruction of microvili (rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton) -> malabsorption and diarrhea
What is clostridium botulinum and how is it recognized in a lab?
Obligate anaerobe, gram (+) rod that produces botulism neurotoxin.
Spore forming
Usually clinical identification w/o culture
Can be grown in O2 free lab environment
Immune assay for toxin in food sample, blood, gastric contents
How does botulinum toxin work?
Usually ingested as a preformed toxin via contaminated food
sypmtoms 12-36 hrs after ingestion
AB toxin - B portion binds ganglioside receptors on nerve cells
Toxin blocks presynaptic release of ACh - prevention of muscle contraction and flaccid paralysis - death via respiratory collapse
Can botulinum toxin be inactivated?
Yes - boil 10-15 minutes
Spores are not destroyed (can withstand 100deg C for 3-5 hrs)
What are infant and wound botulism?
Infant botulism: infants have incomplete gut microflora. C. botulinum can colonize and produce toxin -> SIDS (v. rare)
-seen in cases of mothers giving infants honey
Wound botulism: colonization of deep wound (anaerobic) - organism found in nature, can contaminate wound, grow and produce toxin
What is the most common form of bacterial food poisoning?
Staph aureus
Describe S.aureus enterotoxin action.
Preformed toxin is ingested and absorbed. Assoc. w/ food being left out - potato salad, cold cuts.
Stimulation of neural receptors in gut - signal to emetic center -> projectile vomiting within hours
Enterotoxin is heat stable
What bacterial food-borne organism is associated with Chinese restaurants / fried rice?
Bacillus cereus
Describe B.cereus toxic effects
2 forms:
- Emetic: (1-6 hrs post ingestion) ingestion of preformed toxin (fried rice held at room temp for a long period). S.aureus like N/V, cramps
- Diarrheal: (8-16 hrs. post ingestion) toxin formed in vivo. Activation of intestinal AC -> elevated cAMP, fluid excretion, diarrhea. meat or veg. foods held at room temp after cooking.
* ** both forms subside ~24 hrs. after onset ***
What is Clostridium perfringens?
Gram (+) rod, anaerobic spore-former.
Similar toxic effect to B.cereus
Assoc. w/ cooked food being left at room temp (meat, veg, gravy)
Abd cramps, N/V, diarrhea, no fever.
Symptoms 8-24 hours after consumption. Toxin produced in GI tract.
What are the symptoms of Giardia lamblia infection?
Acute watery diarrhea, cramping, flatulence.
May develop chronic diarrhea. Symptoms may wax/wane over a long period. Weight loss common.
What is Giardia lamblia and how is it identified?
Protozoan. Flagellated.
Two stage life-cycle: Trophozoite (free-living) cyst (infective)
Identified by microscopic examination of stool, duodenal aspiration, or duodenal biopsy - look for cyst
string test
Antigen test of stool
What is giardia’s incubation period?
7-10 days
What is Cryptosporidium parvum? Describe infection
Protozoan most often isolated in HIV patients w/ diarrhea
severe, prolonged, watery diarrhea in immunocompromised, less severe in normal
Oocyst ingested in contaminated water -> sporozoite in intestine -> Enters intestinal epithelial cells -> sexual / asexual reproduction -> oocysts released and shed in feces
What is Clostridium difficile and how is it identified?
Gram (+) rod, anaerobic, spore forming
Normal flora in ~5% of adults, but can cause inflammatory diarrhea (inflammation of colonic mucosa)
Culturing is not helpful to identification
Toxin test on stool is most helpful: EIA
What are C.diff’s virulence factors?
2 toxins
A: enterotoxin: -> accumulation of viscous bloody fluid in colon. Chemotactic for PMNs -> PMN lysis -> release of inflammatory mediators, fluid secretion, altered membrane permeability, Hemorrhagic necrosis of mucosa.
B: cytotoxin: disrupts actin polymerization and cytoskeletal organization, inhibits protein synthesis - similar in effect to diptheria toxin
What is pseudomembranous colitis?
Can be caused by C.diff infection
pseudomembrane forms at site of epithelial cell destruction - consists of fibrin, mucin, and dead PMNs, leukocytes
Produces watery, sometimes bloody diarrhea, may be mucus present. Abdominal pain and cramps, fever, nausea. In severe cases may be lethal.
What is EHEC?
Enterohemorrhagic E.coli (also STEC (shiga-toxin e.coli) and VTEC (verocytotoxin e.coli))
How is EHEC identified in the lab?
Gram (-) rod, facultative anaerobic
O157:H7 does not fement sorbitol, so can be selected for on sorbitol MacConkey agar
Serotype with anti-O157:57 serum
demonstrate pathogenic activity with vero cells
DNA probe for shigella toxin genes
EHEC virulence factors
Adhesion: Tir and intimin production - tight binding
Toxin: Shiga toxin
Type III secretion: attaching and effacing lesions
What is Shiga toxin?
Produced by EHEC also vero cytotoxin
AB toxin
B binds G3 ganglioside receptor. A subunit enzymatically modifies 28S rRNA of 60S ribosomal subunit - blockade of protein synthesis and cell death
Capillary thrombosis, inflammation of colonic mucosa, hemorrhagic colitis
Shiga Toxin I and II encoded by plasmids (Stx1, Stx2)
Describe the etiology of EHEC
Usually spread via contaminated food (Ground beef)
Small number of organisms can cause infection
Incubation period of 3-4 days - severe crampy watery diarrhea that evolves to grossly bloody diarrhea
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: 5-10% of patients - esp. children
-acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia.
-shiga toxin damages renal glomerular cells
How is Shigella identifiable in the lab?
Gram (-), non-motile, lactose neg on MacConkey and Hektoen agars.
Serotyping - 4 groupings:
1. Group A: S. dysenteriae (Shiga bacillus - largest producer of toxin)
2. Group B: S. flexneri
3. Group C: S.boydii
4. Group D: S.sonnei (60-80% of US cases)
Describe Shigella infection and illness
Transmitted by food, fingers, flies, feces
Organisms multiply in sm. intestine, esp. lower sm. intestine.
First 12 hrs: abdominal pain, cramping, fever
12-72 hrs: organism is no longer in upper intestine. pain intensifies, dysentery, tenesmus, lethargy. Many PMN in mucoid stool.
Explain Shigella virulence
Invasiveness: entry via M.cells, passed to macrophage, apoptosis induced, IL-1, inflammatory factors, PMN chemotaxis
PMN open tight junctions allowing Shigella to penetrate epithelium.
Escape from phagosome and movement to epithelial cells. Actin rearrangement “actin based motility” - allows bacteria to move through cell and enter neighbors.
Epithelial cells die after infectoin - ulcerative colitis
Product is bacillary dysentery. Only S. dysenteriae produces toxin which contributes to death of epithelium. Primary virulence is via cell invasion.
What is EIEC?
Enteroinvasive E.coli
Behaves like Shigella - cell invasion, actin rearrangement - cell death - dysentery. Symptoms the same.
No tests to differentiate from other E.coli strains,but can be differentiated from Shigella. Rare.
3 forms of Salmonella infection
Gastroenteritis: most common - 8-48 hour incubation, abrupt onset, low fever, diarrhea, N/V, 2-5 day duration.
Bacteremia: invasion of blood stream following oral ingestion. High spiking fever, septic. Usually no GI symptoms. Rare.
Enteric (Typhoid) Fever: 7-20 day incubation, chills, headache anorexia, myalgia, enlarged spleen and lymph nodes, gradual fever, insidious onset, early constipation followed by bloody diarrhea, lasts several weeks. 1/3 of patients develop maculopapular rash (rose spots) on trunk.
In chronic carriers of Salmonella, where is the organism reservoir?
Gall bladder
What size Salmonella inoculum causes illness?
10^4 - 10^8
Large inoculum needed.
Explain Salmonella’s virulence
Invasion: enter M cells or intestinal mucosa epithelial cells - multiplication within vessicles (phagosomes) -> cell lysis
Type III secretion: Actin rearrangement -> ruffled border
Endotoxin: Lipid A of LPS induces inflammatory response and contributes to mucosal dammage.
How is Salmonella identified in the lab?
Gastroenteritis: culture lactose neg, oxidase neg colonies, serological tests to determine serotype (there are many)
Bacteremia: blood cultures, stool cultures (usually negative)
Typhoid fever: early - blood culture, later - stool
How can Salmonella be differentiated from Salmonella in the lab?
Growth on Hektoen enteric (HE) agar
Salmonella grows distinct black colonies due to H2S production
What is campylobacter infection associated with?
Usually chicken consumption - undercooked
Sometimes other meats, raw milk