Anthrax and Plague Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the anthrax organism called?
Bacillus anthracis
What is the other bacillus that causes disease?
bacillus cereus (food poisoning)
Virulence factors of bacillus anthracis:
Capsule - is a poly D-glutamic acid (an AA opposed to polysaccharide like usual)
Toxins - Edema Toxin and Lethal Toxin
What is the make up of edema toxin in bacillus anthracis?
edema toxin = EF + PA
edema factor: calmodulin-dependent bacterial adenylate cyclase (increases cAMP)
protective antigen: b-subunit and cell binding component. (anti-PA antibodies neutralize it)
What is the make up of lethal toxin in bacillus anthracis?
Lethal toxin = LF + PA
lethal factor: zinc-metaloprotease cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) to inhibit MAPK pathway.
Protective Antigen: b-subunit and cell binding component. (anti-PA antibodies neutralize it)
Where do bacillus anthracis come from?
soil reservoir
herbivores infected
transmission to humans: animal contact, meat, hide/wool/etc.
Forms of anthrax disease
Cutaneous (malignant pustule) - most common in nature
Gastrointestinal - rare
Inhalational
Diagnosis of inhalational anthrax
CXR pathognomonic - widened mediastinum with pleural effusions, no infiltrates
Gram stain of blood shows broad Gram-positive rods.
Treatment of bioterrorist attack with anthrax
Ciprofloxacin or doxycycline for 60 days
What organism causes THE PLAGUE!
Yersinia pestis
Yersinia pestis characteristics
gram-negative rod
with Wayson staining, looks like blue safety pins
How is Yersinia pestis transmitted
FLEAS..little bastards
