Topic 6: Immunity, Infection And Forensics Flashcards
(103 cards)
Virus structure
Non-living
- consist of a nucleic acid, enclosed in a protective protein coat called the capsid
- covered with a lipid layer called the envelope
Bacteria and viruses differences
- bacteria are prokaryotes
- bacteria do not require a host to survive
- viruses are smaller
- bacteria have organelles
TB explain
- caused by the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis
- spread through lipid droplets which are inhaled by another person causing the bacteria to move into lungs
- in the lungs, the bacteria is engulfed by a phagocyte. in TB the bacteria are able to survive and replicate from inside the phagocyte
- first infection may be symptomless. Infected phagocytes are sealed in tubercles in the lungs as a result of inflammatory response
- bacteria lie dormant inside the tubercles. Not destroyed by immune system as have a thick waxy coat
- when immune system is weakened, bacteria becomes active again
- spreads to other parts of the body, which means they can be fatal
HIV explain
-destroys T helper cells in the immune system leading to AIDS
- the first symptoms of HIV are flu like
- after several weeks HIV antibodies appear in blood
- symptoms disappear until the immune system becomes weakened again, leading to AIDS
- symptoms include weight loss, dementia and cancers
name three physical barriers to infection
- skin - tough physical barrier consisting of keratin
- stomach acid and enzymes - kill bacteria
- gut and skin flora - natural bacteria flora competes with pathogens for food and space
antibiotics definition and the two types
used to fight infection by killing the bacteria and stopping their growth.
- bactericidal antibiotics: kill bacteria by destroying their cell wall, causing them to burst
- bacteriostatic antibiotics: inhibit the growth of bacteria by stopping protein synthesis and production of nucleic acids so bacteria cant divide
how do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics
- as a result of natural selection
- bacteria not killed by the antibiotic possess a selective advantage - resistance which enables them to survive and reproduce
- the allele for AR is passed onto offspring creating a resistant strain
- pathogens also evolve adaptations which allow them to survive and reproduce
how do hospitals control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections
- new patients are screened at arrival and then isolated and treated
- antibiotics only used when needed and the course is completed to ensure all bacteria are destroyed, and to minimise selection pressure on bacteria
- no use of antibiotics for minor infections or viral diseases
- rotate the use of antibiotics
- strict hygiene regimes
- wearing suitable clothing to minimise transmission
what is RNA splicing
a post transcriptional modification of mRNA which enables eukaryotes to produce more proteins than they have genes. enables more than one protein to be made from one gene
how does RNA splicing occur
- a gene is transcribed which results in pre-mRNA
- all introns and some exons are removed
- remaining genes are joined back up by enzyme complexes called spliceosomes.
- the same exons can be joined in a variety of ways to produce several versions of mature functional RNA
explain degree of muscle contraction
- after death, muscles begin to stiffen as ATP is used up, calcium ions build up and become fixed in a state of contraction
- this is rigor mortis and the extent of it can be used to determine time of death
what are introns
non coding regions of DNA
- consist of many repeating base sequences known as short tandem repeats in sections called satellites
what are extrons
coding regions of DNA
what are the four main ways in which pathogens can enter the body
- broken skin: this provides direct access to the tissues and bloodstream
- the digestive system: when we consume contaminated food or drink
- the respiratory system: every time we inhale
- mucosal surfaces: the lining of body cavities eg inside of nose , mouth
how do antibiotics work
- inhibiting bacterial enzymes needed to form bonds in the cell walls; this prevents growth and causes death. cell walls are weakened and burst under the pressure of water entering via osmosis
- binding to ribosomes and preventing protein synthesis - the ribosome shape is altered, thus the mrna is prevented from binding to the ribosome, so translation cannot occur and the protein is not synthesised
- damaging cell membranes, leading to a loss of useful metabolites
- preventing bacterial DNA from coiling into rings, meaning that it no longer fits into the bacterial cell.
what factors can be used to determine time of death
- extent of decomposition
- stage of succession
- forensic entomology
- body temp of the deceased
- degree of muscle contraction
how can extent of decomposition be used to determine time of death
- visually by looking at the appearance of the body
- after a few days: skin will appear greenish in colour
- after a few weeks: gases such as methane produced, which leads to bloating. the skin will blister and fall off the body.
- a few weeks after this the tissue turns to liquid
what is rate of decomposition affected by
- temp
- availability of oxygen
- Decomposition would be slower in anaerobic conditions and at lower temperatures
what stages of succession would the body undergo if above ground
- bacteria will be found in and on the body immediately after death
- tissue decomposition creates ideal conditions for flies to lay eggs and their larvae to hatch
- this creates good conditions for beetles to establish
- when tissue dries out, flies leave
- beetles remain
what can body temp tell us of TOD
- once a person dies metabolic reactions end.
- since no more heat is being produced, body temp drops (this process is algor mortis)
- body temp decreases 1.5-2 degrees per hour
what does muscle contraction tell us about TOD
- muscles in the body begin to contract about 4-6 hours after TOD. this is rigor mortis.
- rigor mortis will begin in the head and end in the lower body
- rm wears off about 24-36 hours from TOD.
- this process is affected by the evel of muscle development and the temperature of the surroundings: Higher temperatures will speed up the rate of rigor mortis
how do hospitals limit the spread of hospital-acquired infections
Staff and visitors must wash hands regularly while visiting patients
If a person contracts a HAI they should be moved to an isolation ward to prevent spread of the infection
Surfaces and equipment must be disinfected after every use
increased washing of bedding
testing patients for the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria before admission
staff not to wear ties/ long sleeves
what can forensic entomology tell us about time of death
- a dead body provides the ideal habitat for many species of insects
- different insect species will colonise a body at different times after death: flies will be found after a few hours, beetles later
- another clue insects provide is the stage of life cycle that they are at
forensic entomology definition
the study of insect colonies on a dead body