Exam 1 Flashcards
What type of environment does S. Pyogenes require
It is aerotolerant or microaerophilic, and so requires just a small bit of oxygen
What type of environment does S. aureus require
It is facultative, and so can grow with or without oxygen
What does strep pyogenes look like under the microscope
A chain of balls. Strep is a strip!
What does staph aureus look like under the microscope
clusters of grapes
What 6 counters/evasion strategies does strep pyogenes employ
- Protective outer coat that blocks complement 2. Coats itself with host fibrinogen 3. produces a hyaluronic acid capsule similar to the host extracellular matrix 4. strain variation of M protein 5. Cytolytic exotoxins and enzymes that kill defensive leukocytes and destroy clots 6. facilitates colonization with M protein and F protein that cross link pili to host fibronectin on host epithelial cells, etc
What are some of the main disease that strep (mainly pyogenes) causes
strep throat, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, childbirth fever, endocarditis neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections
What are the three mechanisms by which S. pyogenes damages the host
- local pyogenic infection 2. toxic system disease 3. Immune-sequelae’ diseases
What is type 2 hypersensitivity
Damage that results from the direct binding of an antibody to a host epitope
What is the main type 2 hypersensitivity disease caused by S. pyogenes
Ab made against S. pyogenes cross reacts with heart tissue epitopes, thus damaging the heart and causing one of the severe outcomes of rheumatic fever
What is a type 3 hypersensitivity
immune-complex-induced damage (innocent bystander)
What is the best way to prevent rheumatic fever
Penicillin TX of strep throat
What is scarlet fever
System-wide inflammation and dysfunction including rashes fever and shock. Caused by S. pyogenes pyrogenic super antigen
What are the main ways Strep infections can damage the heart
- acute bacterial endocarditis 2. rheumatic fever 3. sub-acute bacterial endocarditis
Why do many people develop hypersensitivity to penicillin
Because it has a very active beta lactim ring that will bind to host proteins
what are the main classifications of streptococcus
- Hemolysis 2. Lancefield 3. Natural cluster 4. 16S rna sequences
What is the classification of S. pyogenes
beta-hemolytic, group A
What is the classification and primary location of S. agalactiae
beta-hemolytic, group B. Lives primarily in vagina
What are the main pathologies caused by S. pyogenes
Strep throat, rheumatic fever, cellulitis, scarlet fever
What are the main pathologies caused by S. agalactiae and its main virulence factor(s)
neonatal sepsis, mom sepsis. Main virulence factor is a capsule
What is the classification of S. pneumoniae
alpha-hemolytic, no lancefield
What is the main virulence factor(s) and pathologies caused by S. pneumoniae
uses a capsule. Causes pneumonia, ear infections, and meningitis
What is the classification and location of viridans type strep
alpha hemolytic, they live in the mouth
What are the main pathologies caused by viridans type strep
Endocarditis, dental caries
What are the most pathogenic stains of Staph
S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and S. saprophyticus
Why does staph remain infectious for weeks
because it is non-fastidious: grows in up to 10% NaCl, resists drying for weeks or months, resists heating up to 60C for 30 minutes, and resists pH changes.
What is a big problem with Staph
They are frequently multi drug resistant and have multiple virulence factors, mostly because they are promiscuous conjugators. Additionally, they have a high carrier rate.
What pathogen secretes catalase and what does it do
Staph secretes catalase which converts H2O2 to water which protects them in phagolysosomes
Where is S. saprophyticus normally found and what is its appearance
S. saprophyticus is found in the colon and vaginal mucosa. It forms a white colony
Where is S. epidermidis normally found and what is its appearance
S. epidermidis is found on the skin or other dry epithelium and forms a white colony
Where is S. aureus normally found and what is its appearance
S. aureus is essentially the only bug that inhabits nasal mucosa. It inhabits moist skin surfaces, and often the GI tract. It forms a yellow colony and is coagulase positive.
What are the virulence factors in S. aureus
Protein A, secrete many enzymes and toxins, drug resistance
What are the virulence factors in S. epidermidis
Capsule, drug resistance
What are the main pathologies caused by S. aureus
Food poisoning, TSS, nosocomial infections, skin infections like abscesses and impetigo
What are the main pathologies caused by S. epidermidis
Catheter and prosthetic implant infections