Stapholococci Flashcards
(80 cards)
What’s the division pattern of Staph?
divide along three planes - resulting in grape-like clusters (can also be seen singularly or in pairs, but most often clusters)
How do streptococcus species divide? (different from staph)
divide along a single plane that is perpendicular to long axis of cells - resulting in formation of chains or pairs of cells (diplococci)
What is this?

staph aureus
What is this?

strep pneumoniae
Explain the catalase test.
catalase - breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) -> water + O2
take a colony -> drop 3% H2O2 onto colony-> positive test will show bubbling over region (from oxygen!)
staph = positve
strep = neg
Explain the coagulase test.
coagulase converts fibrinogen-> fibrin
plasma inoculated with bacteria -> incubate specimen at 37OC -> positive will see clotting of plasma sample
Explain the mannitol salt agar test.
Positive: changes the pH indicator from red to yellow - meaning mannitol was fermented and acid formed as end product (lowering the pH and causing this change in color)
What is the link between staph aureus and coagulase?
hallmark positive test!
allows staph aureus to wall itself from the immune defenses via promotion of abscess formation (walls off from immune responses AND prevent antibiotics penetration)
What is the siginificance of staph aureus ability to ferment mannitol?
mannitol provides the main carbon source
indication that S. aureus can live happily on the surface of skin despite salt, dry environment containing sebaceous, anti-microbial peptides
test serves as both selective and differential for S. aureus
What is seen on blood agar plate with S. aureus?
gold pigment from production of anti-oxidant pigment staphyloxanthin
(keep in mind is hallmark of the bacteria but not all strains will have this golden pigment)
What is hemolysis?
destruction of RBCs around colony
Where do we find staph aureus?
part of normal/transient flora in human and animals
particularly found on skin (axilla), nasopharynx, nares, groin (perineum)
risk of nosocomial infections!
What is the significance of adherance factors?
helps staph aureus stick to a lot of surfaces
What’s the importance of the antimicrobial resistance factors?
allows staph aureus to bcome resistant to many drugs
How does beta-lactamase work?
cuts off the active part of the antibiotics that allow S. aureus to have immunity
What is the order of virulence factor expressions for S. aureus?
early on we have adherence -> then immuno-evasion and invasiveness -> then exotoxins
makes sense if think about what pathogen needs to invade
Are s. aureus able to make biofilms?
yes! (staph epidermidis can as well)
What is the sigfinicance of biofilms?
makes it hard for antibiotics to get to is - also, hard to eradicate with phagocytes when they’re imbedded in this biofilm
What are the invasins virulence factors of S. aureus?
hyaluronidase, staphylysin, leukocidin, leukotoxin, coagulase, staphylokinase
What do leukotoxin and leukocidin do?
kill WBCs
What are the functions of hyaluronidase and staphylokinase?
spreading factors - promote tissue destruction that allows the bacteria to disseminate throughout the tissue
What are the adherence factors of Staph Aureus?
Fbe (fibrinogen adhesions), AtlE (vitronectin adhesion), GehD (collagen adhesion), Embp (fibronectin adhesion)
aka MSCRAMMs (microbrial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules)
What is significant about the adherence pattern of Staph Aureus?
will bind our own proteins (fibrin, fibronectin) and has predilection for adhering to damaged tissues
gives bacteria ability to adhere to SEVERAL diff surfaces and initiate biofilm formation
What are the exotoxin damage / superantigens of staph aureus?
TSST (toxic shock syndrome toxin), EFT (exfoliative toxins), SE AG (staphylococcal enterotoxin)





