MOD 6: Blood, Lymph, and Diagnostic Lab (WGS)

Endocarditis

Infection of the inner heart lining and valves, often forming "vegetations" of bacteria

Sepsis

A systemic, life-threatening immune overreaction to a blood infection

Septic Shock

A dramatic drop in blood pressure and organ failure during sepsis

Paroxysm

Cycles of chills and fever in Malaria caused by red blood cells bursting simultaneously

Genotype

The genetic "instruction manual" or DNA blueprint of a bacterium

Phenotype

The actual observed behavior of a bacterium, such as resistance in a Kirby-Bauer test

Beta-lactamase

An enzyme produced by bacteria to destroy penicillin-type antibiotics

Why Gram-negative bacteria trigger sepsis

They contain LPS (endotoxin), causing immune cells to release a mass surge of cytokines

Immune cells infected by Epstein-Barr (Mono)

Infects throat tissue, then hitches a ride to infect B cells in the lymph nodes

Why Lyme disease increased with suburban expansion

Removing predators like wolves lets white-footed mice (which carry tick larvae) thrive near humans

Genotype vs. Kirby-Bauer disagreement

Kirby-Bauer (phenotype) is trusted because it reflects real-world observed behavior

Why drug + clavulanic acid fails against AmpC

Clavulanic acid blocks ESBL-type enzymes but cannot block AmpC-type beta-lactamase enzymes