Flashcards in Microbial toxins and mycotoxins Deck (32)
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1
2 types of microbial toxin
- endotoxin (LPS, specifically the lipid A part, hydrophobic, found in OM)
- exotoxin
2
How is lipid A an endotoxin?
molecular structure that is recognised by PRRs on host cells as sign of bacterial infeciton --> macrophage receptor complex (CD14, TLR4, MD2) --> release of cytokines (TNFa, IL1) --> fever, hypotension, loss of effective circulation, many pathophysiological effects
3
Name 7 types of exotocins
1. cytolytic toxins (sometimes called haemolysins)
2. enzymes
3. enterotoxins
4. neurotoxins
5. superantigens
6. ADP-ribosylation toxins
7. Type 3 secretion systems
4
Example of cytolytic toxin
- aka sometimes haemolysins
- Streptolysin S of S. equi
- sometimes not haemolytic but still damage cells (leukocidins; e.g. Apx 3 of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae)
5
Example of enzyme exotoxin
- Phospholipase C of Clostridium perfringers (alpha toxin)
- Other protein toxins belonging to Clostridium perfringens include hyaluronidase, collagenase, protease and lipase.
6
Define exotoxin
= bacterial proteins, usually released during bacterial growth
7
Example of enterotoxin (endotoxin)
- acts in GIT
- e.g. ADP-ribosylation toxins (such as LT of E.coli which consists of 5 B subunits, 1 A subunit, similar to cholera toxin, attaches to brush border of SI cells)
8
How does LT cause secretory diarrhoea?
Binds cell, subunit A introduced into cell and causes Gs to convert to Gs-adp-3 (controls cAMP --> cannot control adenylate cyclase) -> overall causes increased IC [cAMP] --> Cl- channel activation --> Cl- secretion increased --> Na+ and H2O lost from tissue into lumen --> secretory diarrhoea
9
Action - botulinum toxin
Blocks release of Ach at synapse and NMJ --> flaccid paralysis and death
10
How can wild fowl suffer from botulism?
--> limber neck --> bird drowns (can't hold head up above water). Large numbers of fowl may be affected.
11
Action - tetanus toxin
Blocks release of NTs for inhibitory synapses (glycine and GABA) causing uncontrolled excitatory synaptic activity --> paralysis by constant tensing of mm (tetani)
12
What are superantigens?
- an example of an exotoxin
- e.g. S. aureus TSST-1, a 22kDa protein
- they are immunomodulators (induce massive TC activation and cytokine release from these) --> toxin binds to invariable regions on MHC2 on APC --> normal processs of TC activation in short-circuited (i.e. no need for correct Ag to link APC and MHC2 --> inappropriate activation in a large # TCs that is many more than for a natural Ag)
13
What are ADP-ribosylation toxins?
= ADP-ribosyltransferases
- normally the enzyme causing addition of one/more ADP-ribose moietites to a protein
- affects cell signalling and gene regulation
- EXAMPLES: Pseudomonas exotoxin A, cholera toxin, diphtheria toxin, enterotoxins (E.coli LT)
- NAD+ donates ADP ribose to protein
14
CS - salmonella - and pathophysiology
- enterocyte damage --> enterocyte invasion --> bloody, mucoid diarrhoea, sometimes systemic disease (septicaemia)
- nobody has found a soluble toxin responsible for enteric damage
- MECHANISM = type 3 secretion systems (injectosome)
15
Outline type 3 secretion systems (injectosome) as an exotoxin
- needle-like structure in pathogenic bacteria is used as a sensory probe to detect eukaryotes and secrete proteins that help bacteria infect them
- secreted effector proteins are injected directly from bacteria into eukaryote host cell. They exert effects that help the pathogen survive and escape and immune response
- T3SS proteins are: structural, effector, chaperonins
- T2SS genes of Salmonella are laid out int he Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)
16
List some protein toxins used effectively as vaccine Ags
- tetanus toxin
- diphtheria toxin
- clostridial toxins
- pasteurella osteolytic toxin (atrophic rhinitis)
- Apx 1, 2, 3
- Anthrax toxin
* Pre-existing neutralising anti-toxin Ab activity can protect against disease.
17
Name 3 types of mycotoxins (fungal toxins)
- toadstool poisoning
- ingestion of plant pathogenic fungi (ergotism)
- ingestion of moulded feed (mycotoxicosis)
18
Outline toadstool poisoning
- death cap = Anmanita phalloides (olive-green-yellow cap, lethal to dogs)
19
Outline ergotism or ergot poisoning
- ergots are little black structures
- size variable (small-large)
- Sclerotium forms in grass and cereal (the ergots are the sclerotium which is mycelium bound together)
- scelrotium overwinters in soil
- in spring, the ergot germinates --> mushroom structures sprount --> produce sexual spores (ASCOSPORES) inside the perithecium --> windborne transmission --> these infect the floret --> ovary colonised by fungus --> conidiospores (asexual spores) produced from mycelium in the growing ovary --> honeydew exudes from infected floret and attracts flies which then spread to other florets.
- good warm spring encourages spread of conidiospores
- the grain is replaced by a sclerotium of compacted mycelium (the ergot)
20
Pathophysiology of ergot poisoning
- ergot contains vasoactive alkaloids such as ergotamine
- ingestion of the ergot leads to constriction of arterioles in the extremities --> gangrene and lameness, also convulsions
- hallucinations and pain (humans)
21
Define mycotoxicosis. Example?
= toxins produced in feed which has been moulded after harvest (e.g. aflatoxins)
22
What is Turkey X disease?
- previously unknown
- then 1960, many turkey poults affected
- traced to imported groundnut meal form Brazil which had been produced from moulded nuts
- toxin found, attributed to Aspergiluus flavus (aflatoxin)
- the toxin fluoresces - blue or green (B1 or G1)
23
Outline dx and tx of mycotoxicosis
- TX: no antidotes, no neutralising substances, no Ab
- Dx: detection of toxin in feed relatively easy
24
Effects and prevalence of mycotoxicosis
- PREVALENCE: acute aflatoxin poisoning now rare but chronic poisoning continuing, young animals most susceptible
- EFFECTS: liver damage, tumours, teratogenic
25
What are tichothecenes?
- another mycotoxin
- grain moulded with Fusarium sp. in fields
--> alimentary toxic aleukia in humans
26
What is zearlanone?
- another mycotoxin
- aka Oestrogenic factor, F-2
- found in pigs
- traced to mouldy grain
27
What are Ochratoxins?
- found in pigs in Denmark
- causes nephritis
- Ochratoxin A from Aspergillus ochraceus in Danish barley
- coffee beans may be contaminated with Ochratosins
28
Type of toxin produced by fungus Aspergillus flavus
Aflatoxin B1
29
Type of toxin produced by fungus Aspergillus versicolor
Sterigmatocystin
30
