Microbiology Flashcards
(100 cards)
Describe the key morphology and features of Helicobacter
- Microaerophilic
- Gram -ve
- Vibrio/spiral
- Motile
- Urease positive
- Oxidase positive
- Catalase positive
On what type of media can Helicobacter be cultured?
Enriched
What tests are used to identify Helicobacter?
- Blood antibody test
- Stool antigen test
- Carbon urea breath test
What diseases are caused by Helicobacter?
- Chronic gastritis in ferrets
- Found in gastric mucosa of dogs and cas
- Human disease caused by H. pylori
- Associated with gastritis in number of species
- Considered low pathogenic significance, but possibly zoonotic
Describe the virulence factors
- Secretes large amounts of urease
- Metabolises urea to ammonia, neutralises gastric acid
- ammonia toxic to epithelial cells, along with other secreted factors leads to stomach lining damage and ulcers
- Survival in acidic stomach dependent on urease
Describe how Helicobacter pylori causes disease in humans
- Drills into mucuous gel layer of stomach
- Binds to membrane-associated lipids of epithelial cells
- Secrete large amounts of urease
- Urea metabolises urea to produce ammonia
- Neutralises gastric acid, toxic to epithelial cells
- Also produces protease, catalase, phospholipases
List the symptoms fo periodontal disease in companion animals
- Purulent exudate around the tooth
- Persisten bad breath
- Gums that bleed easily
- Sensitivity around the mouth
- Pawing at the mouth
- Gums that are inflamed, hyperpplastic or receding
- Loose or missing teeth
- Loss of appetite
What is gingivitis?
Inflammation of the gingiva
What can gingivitis be caused by?
- Build up of plaque or calculus
- Inflammation from teh bacteria contained in plaque can lead to gingivitis
Explain how a healthy biofilm may shift towards a pathological biofilm
- Intitial deposition and colonisation by pioneer species
- Glycoproteins present
- Confluent growth of biofilm with matrix
- Pioneer species form micro colonies with polysaccharides, salivary proteins adn glycoproteins
- Initially aerobic growth
- Increased diversity and structure
- Get mineral depositions
- Accumulation of plaque is balance between deposition, growth and removal
- Eh lowers as oxygen consumed, leads to anaerobic environment
- Favours obligate anaerobes
- Nutrition varies as flora changes
- Many bacteria from subgingival plaque are proteolytic, can break down host proteins for nutrition
What bacteria are the first to colonise dental biofilm and why?
- Streptococci
- Actinomyces
- Have adherence properties
Describe plaque
- Sticky, colourless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on teeth
- Is main cause of cavities and gum disease
- Can harden to tartar if not removed daily
- Complex biofilm
- Colonisation contributes to plaque development
Describe colonisation of the biofilm
- Regimented pattern
- Adhesion of initial colonisers (Streptococci, Actinomyces) to enamel salivary pellicle
- Followed by secondary colonisation through interbacterial adhesion
- Variety of adhesins and molecular interactions underlie these interactions
What is calculus?
Hardened plaque that cannot be removed by brushing
Explain how plaque can cause disease
- Bacteria present in plaque can cause inflammation in gingiva, leading to gingivitis
- Can lead to further inflammation and periodontitis
- Bacterial toxins and body’s response to infection leads to breaking down of bone and connective tissue holding tooth in place
How can disease caused by plaque be avoided?
- Regular teeth cleaning
- Provide feed that will clean teeth i.e. dry, hard food
- Check teeth regularly
What is the function of osteoclasts?
Bone resorption
How are osteoclasts formed?
- originate from hematopoietic tissue
- Form through fusion of precursor cells
- Descended from stem ccells in bone marrow tha also give rise to monocytes
- Precursor cells dervied from circulating monocytes in blood
- Osteoclasts regulated by both microbial and host factors
- Proliferation and macrophages, differentiation into pre-osteoclast, polarisation into mature osteoclast and tehn resorption
What pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in stimulation of osteoclastic resorption?
IL-1
IL-6
Describe bone resorption in periodontal disease
- Due to osteoclasts
- Use hydrolytic enzymes to break down bone
- Digest organic portion of bone
- Activity regulated by PTH and calcitonin
Describe the function of osteoclasts in periodontal disease caused by trauma from occlusion in absence of inflammation
- Changes caused by trauma vary from increased compression and tension of periodontal ligament, increased osteoclasis of bone
- Triggered and resorption of bone and tooth structure occurs
Describe the function of osteoclasts in periodontal disease caused by trauma from occlusion in presence of inflammation
- Aggravates bone destruction caused by inflammation
- As advancing inflammatory front approaches alveolar bone, osteoclastic bone resorption commences
- Prevents bacterial invasion of bone
- Leads to tooth mobility and loss
List systemic disorders that may cause periodontal disease
- Age
- Systemic disease
- Hormones
Explain how age can lead to periodontal disease
Increase in age leads to decreased osteoblasts but no decrease in osteoclasts so more loss then remodelling occus