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Microbiology > Unit 1: Chapter 2 Basic Concepts of Infectious Disease > Flashcards

Unit 1: Chapter 2 Basic Concepts of Infectious Disease Flashcards

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1
Q

Is E. Coli a disease causing organism?

A

Yes and no.

  • E. Coli k12*- Part of your normal microbiome
  • E. Coli 0157-* Pathogenic (disease causing)

It basically depends where on your body it is. If K12 were to get in your digestive tract or urinary tract, then it can be bad despite is always be a part of your normal microbiome. On the latter end, despite 0157 being pathogenic, if it were to be on your hands, then it is not bad, but as soon as it gets somewhere its not supposed to be, then it can be bad.

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2
Q

What is a collection of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes usually colonizing our bodies, but not causing any harm?

A

Normal Microbiota

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3
Q

T or F: Most of our body is human cells

A

False; most of our body is microbial

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4
Q

What is mutualism?

A

A relationship in which both the community members and host benefit

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5
Q

What is a pathogen?

A

Any bacterium, virus, fungus, protozoan, or worm (helminth) that causes disease

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6
Q

Pathogenicity is the ability of an organism to cause disease.

What does this depend on?

A
  • genetic makeup of host and pathogen
  • location in/ on the host’s body
  • host immune response
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7
Q

Primary Pathogens

A

Due to their structures in them, they are able to breach defenses of a completly healthy host

Ex. E. Coli 0157

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8
Q

Opportunistic Pathogens

A

Are able to cause disease only in a compromised host

Like your microbiome; if it ends up in the wrong place or your immune system is compromised, then it can cause disease

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9
Q

Latent State

A

Organism is within the host, but cannot be detected by culture; its hiding in your body until your immune system is compromised

Ex. Herpes Virus

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10
Q

Parasite

A

Any organism that colonizes and harms its host

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11
Q

Ectoparasite

A

A parasite living outside the body of the host

Ex. bedbugs, lice, fleas, ticks, etc

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12
Q

Endoparasite

A

Parasites living on the inside of the body of the host

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13
Q

Infection

A

A pathogen or parasite that enters or begins to grow in/on a host.

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14
Q

Do all infections cause disease?

A

No. The virulence of the pathogen determies whether it’ll cause disease or not.

  • It does not imply overt disease
  • May go unnoticed
  • Is often temporary
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15
Q

Virulence

A

a measure of the degree of severity of disease

The smaller the # of virus particles it takes for a lethal dose/infectious dose, the more virulent it is.

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16
Q

Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)

A

The number of bacteria or virus particles required to kill 50% of an experimental group of animal hosts

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17
Q

Infectious Dose 50% (ID50)

A

The number of bacteria virus particles needed to cause disease symptoms in 50% of an experimental group of hosts

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18
Q

Invasion

A

The ability of some pathogens to actually enter and live inside a host CELL

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19
Q

Invasiveness

A

The ability of a bacterial pathogen to rapidly spread through tissue

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20
Q

What are the steps to cause disease?

A
  1. Entry
  2. Attachment
  3. Evade immune system
  4. Obtain nutrients
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21
Q

What are the portals of entry of a pathogen?

A
  • Fecal-oral
  • Skin
  • Respiratory
  • Irogenital
  • Parenteral
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22
Q

Portals of Entry for Pathogen: Fecal-Oral

A

Through musosal surfaces of GI tract

Has to survive HCL in stomach, but it still fairly common

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23
Q

Portals of Entry for Pathogen: Skin

A

Through epithelial surfaces

Very hard to enter on good health skin and is the least common way a pathogen enters

Once the skin is compromised, a pathogen can enter

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24
Q

Portals of Entry for Pathogen: Respiratory

A

Through mucosal surfaces of respiratory tract

The most common entry for pathogens

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25
Portals of Entry for Pathogen: **Urogenital**
Through mucosal surfaces of genital and urinary tracts
26
Portals of Entry for Pathogen: **Parenteral**
Through injection into the bloodstream Enters though **compromised** skin Ex. insect bites; wounds/needle sticks
27
Attachment of a pathogen to a host
Pathogens attach via **ADHESIONS**; looks for weak points on or in cells to attach **Pathogens have adhesions that bind to specific host cell receptors that allow them to stay with the host**; if there is a lack of receptors, then pathogens cannot attach; where you get infected depends where the receptors are
28
Colonization
Refers to the ability of the microbe to stay attached to the body surface and replicate
29
Determine Host Range
Ability of the pathogen to infect as few (narrow host range) or as many (broad host range) and produce disease
30
Immune Avoidance; Evade the immune system
Altered surface antigens; change the shape to confuse the immune system Secreation of “all is well” Signals apoptosis; secreate proteins that convince the immune system cells to kill themselves This is when the pathogens tries to avoid the immune system so that it can cause infection or disease
31
What nutrient is the pathogen wanting to obtain from the host?
Iron (Fe)
32
What does a pathogen have that helps it obtain iron?
Sideophorso This has a higher affinity for Fe and allows for it to steal iron from the host
33
How does the host hide iron from the pathogen?
Hidden in hemoglobin; trans**_ferrin_**; binds free Fe to keep away from pathogens Lacto**_ferrin_**; found in breast milk; binds fee Fe to keep away from pathogens
34
Anything that ends with _________ helps keep iron (Fe) away from the pathogen
-ferrin
35
Disease
**Disruption of the normal structure or function** of any body part, organ, or system that can be recognized by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs Ex. Diabetes, cancer, CHF, Alzheimer's, etc
36
Infectious Disease
A disease caused by a microorganism that can be transferred from one host to another Something caused by a **pathogen** Ex. Flu, COVID, measles, strep throat, etc
37
Stages of an Infectious disease
1. Incubation phase 2. Prodromal phase 3. Illness phase 4. Decline phase 5. Convalescent phase 6. Long term
38
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Incubation Period**
Time after the microbe first infects a host, but before the signs of a disease At this point, you and your immune system doesn't know you are sick yet
39
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Prodromal Phase**
The short period of vague symptoms and malaise; can serve as a warning of more symptoms to come, but may not be noticed At this point, you begin to not “feel right”; this phase doesn't always happen with all diseases
40
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Illness Phase**
Typical symptoms and signs of the disease appear and fever may be present
41
What is acme?
This is the point where the disease is most severe ## Footnote **The PEAK of the illness**
42
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Decline**
Symptoms begin to subside; fever is resolved
43
Host factors in disease
1. **Age**; very young or very old most susceptible 2. **Host Genetic Makeup**; host receptos to which bacteria and virus bind 3. **Host Hygiene and Behavior** 4. **Nutrition and Exercise** 5. **Underlying Non-Infectious Diseases or Conditions**; genetic defects in immune system, chronic infections, diabetes, alcohol use, cancer, etc 6. **Occupation**; healthcare works, lab personnel, hunters, etc 7. **Immune Status and Immunopathogenesis**; immune respnse to pathogen, immunosuppressant drugs
44
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Convalescence**
Period after symptoms disappear and the patient recovers The pathogen is not completely out of the hosts system, but the body begins do more **repairing** than anything
45
Stages of an Infectious disease: **Long Term**
Adaptive immune system fights off that same pathogen if it enters again in the future
46
Sign vs. Symptom
A **SIGN** is something that can be _observed_ by a person examining a patient (ie. running nose, rash, etc) A **SYMPTOM** is something that _can only be felt by the patient_ (ie. pain, fatigue, etc)
47
What is a syndrome?
A _collection of signs and symptoms_ that occur together and signify a particular disease or infection
48
What is the infection cycle?
The route of transmission an organism takes to infect additional hosts
49
Direct Contact Transmission of a Disease
Organisms that spread from person to person
50
What are the 2 types of direct contact transmission?
1. **Horizontal**; from person to person via droplets, sexual intercourse, etc or from animal to person 2. **Vertical**; from mother to child
51
What is indirect transmission?
It is when organisms spread indirectly through intermediary, which may be living or non-living
52
What are the two types of non-living (vehicle) ways of indirect transmission?
1. **Formite**; any inanimate object (ie. you sneeze on your hand, then touch a door knob and spread) 2. **Medium**; food, water, air
53
What is the living way that microbes may be spread indirectly?
**Vector** This is things like ticks, mosquitos, etc (insects)
54
What is a mechanical vector?
It is an indirect way to transmit disease by landing on contaminated material and then carrying any pathogens present to a living host such as a human, animal, or food
55
What is the reservoir of infection?
Any environment (living or non-living) where you can find the pathogen
56
What is a carrier?
A person who harbors a potential disease agent, but **does not have any signs or symptoms** of disease; can transmit
57
Zoonotic Diseases
Infections that normalt afflict animals, but can be transmitted to humans; can affect humans through **accidental transmission** Typically contracted after encountering the animal reservoir (ex. bubonic plague, Lyme disease, rabies, etc)
58
What is an endemic?
A disease that is _always_ present in a community and seen at a _low rate;_ often harbored in an animal reservoir Seen all the time, but in low numbers
59
What is an epidemic?
When there are _many cases_ developing in a _short time_ Big spike for a short period of time
60
What is a pandemic?
An epidemic that spreads _worldwide_ Ex. flu, bubonic plague, HIV, covid
61
Biosafety Groups
Groups ranked by the severity of the diseases and ease of transmission
62
Biosafety Groups: **Group I**
Little to no pathogenic potential Generally doesn't cause disease unless you were to be severely immune compromised Standard sterile techniques and lab practices
63
Biosafety Groups: **Group II**
Greater pathogenic portional, but vaccines and **treatments are readily available** Can be severe especially in immunocomporused people, but there is treatment for it Use biolaminar flow cabinets during experiments and try to limit access in and out of the lab
64
Biosafety Groups: **Group III**
Serious or lethal human disease for which vaccines and **treatments may be available** Use of negative pressure rooms (only air can flow in), regulated access in the lab and may use double door air locks
65
Biosafety Groups: **Group IV**
Extremely dangerous pathogens for which **no treatments or vaccines are available** There is a whole separate facility for level 4 pathogens. Positive pressure suits are used so that contaminates are blown away from the person and are unable to get in.
66
Are all infectious diseases known to us?
No; there are new diseases which are continually emerging or re-emerging
67
What is an emerging diseases?
Any pathogen that has not been seen in the past, or might have been seen in the past, but in very small populations Ex. ebola, covid, etc.
68
What is a re-emerging disease?
A pathogen that has been seen in the past, numbers went down, and then it comes backs. Ex. measles, whooping cough, etc
69
What is deforestation and urban sprawl doing?
It is creating breeding areas for mosquitos and is bringing humans closer to disease reservoirs and vectors
70
How does temperature changes and/or drought or excessive rain further the spread of certain pathogens?
It further the spread of certain pathogens bu affecting the geographic distribution of insect and other animal vectors.
71
Morbidity
The existence of a disease state and the rate of incidence of the disease
72
Incidence
The new cases of the disease that develops during the course of the year
73
Mortality
A measure of how many patients have died from disease

Microbiology (7 decks)

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