Medical Interventions Exam 1.1-1.2

Medical intervention

Treats, prevents, diagnoses, or relieves human suffering or alters the course of a disease.

Genetic interventions

Medical interventions that analyze, modify, or use genetic material such as DNA or genes.

Pharmacological interventions

Medications or drugs used to treat, prevent, cure, or relieve symptoms.

Diagnostic interventions

Tests or tools used to identify diseases or abnormalities.

Surgical interventions

Procedures performed to repair, remove, or alter tissues.

Immunological interventions

Treatments that modify or support the immune system, such as vaccines or antibody therapies.

Medical device interventions

Equipment or devices used to diagnose, prevent, or treat medical conditions.

Rehabilitation interventions

Therapies used to restore function after illness or injury.

Medical investigation

The process of linking symptoms to possible disease

Signs

Measurable or observable indicators of disease.

Symptoms

Problems reported by the patient.

Patient 0

The first infected person in an outbreak.

Confirming a diagnosis

Ensuring accuracy before treatment to avoid unnecessary or harmful interventions.

Bioinformatics

Using computers to collect and analyze biological data to identify pathogens.

BLAST

A DNA comparison tool that identifies unknown DNA sequences by matching them to known organisms.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Fluid around the brain and spinal cord that is sampled to test for infection.

Spinal tap

A procedure used to extract CSF for diagnostic testing.

Plating

Growing bacteria from a CSF sample to check for infection.

Lysis

Breaking open bacterial cells to release DNA.

PCR

A process that amplifies DNA so it can be sequenced.

DNA sequencing

Determining the order of nucleotides in DNA to identify an organism.

Color-coded nucleotides

A=green;T=red;C=blue;G=Black

ELISA

A test that uses antigen

Antigen

Protein marker on the surface of cells or viruses recognized by the immune system.

Antibody

Protein produced by B lymphocytes that binds to and neutralizes foreign antigens.

Primary antibody

The first antibody added in an ELISA that binds directly to the antigen.

Secondary antibody

Binds to the primary antibody and carries an attached enzyme.

Substrate (ELISA)

A chemical added that reacts with the enzyme to produce a color change.

Quantitative ELISA result

A measurable result based on color intensity indicating how much antigen is present.

Serial dilution

A stepwise dilution of a known antigen concentration used to measure patient samples.

Gram negative bacteria

Thin peptidoglycan layer, outer membrane with endotoxins, porins present, stains pink/red.

Outer membrane

The lipid bilayer in Gram-negative bacteria containing Lipopolysaccharides

Endotoxins

Lipopolysaccharides on the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria

Periplasm

Region between the plasma membrane and outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria

Gram-positive bacteria

Thick peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, no outer membrane, no porins, stains purple.

Nucleoid

The region containing the bacterial chromosome made of supercoiled DNA.

Plasmids

Small circular DNA molecules carrying extra genes such as antibiotic resistance.

Ribosomes

Cell structures where proteins are synthesized.

Cell wall

A rigid barrier made of peptidoglycan that prevents the cell from bursting.

Plasma membrane

A semipermeable phospholipid bilayer controlling movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Capsule

Gel-like layer that helps bacteria adhere to surfaces and avoid immune detection.

Flagella

Protein structures that rotate to propel the bacterial cell.

Pili

Filamentous structures used for attachment or DNA transfer between bacteria.

β-Lactam antibiotics

Inhibit enzymes needed to form peptide bridges in the bacterial cell wall.

Tetracyclines

Bind to the 30S ribosomal subunit and block tRNA attachment, stopping protein synthesis.

Fluoroquinolones

Inhibit topoisomerases required for DNA supercoiling and essential cell processes.

Sulfonamides

Competitively inhibit the enzyme that binds PABA, blocking folic acid synthesis.

Mutation

driven resistance

Efflux pump

Bacterial mechanism that pumps antibiotics out of the cell.

Enzyme inactivation

Bacterial enzymes that destroy or deactivate antibiotics.

Conjugation

Transfer of plasmids between bacteria through a sex pilus.

Transformation

Uptake of free DNA from dead bacteria.

Transduction

Transfer of bacterial DNA through a bacteriophage (virus)

Transduction

transfer of bacterial DNA through a bacteriophage (virus)

Conjugation

Pili tube between cells.