Microbe-Human Interactions: Infection, Disease, and Epidemiology

Flashcards covering key concepts related to microbe-human interactions, infection, disease, and epidemiology based on lecture notes.

What is normal flora?

refers to the resident microbes that inhabit various areas of the body without penetrating into sterile tissues, engaging in mutual or commensal associations.

What is microbial antagonism?

is the process by which normal flora benefit the host by preventing the overgrowth of harmful microbes.

How does the microbiome of C-section babies differ from that of vaginally born babies?

do not have the expected lactobacilli-rich microbiota in their GI tract, which is typically present in vaginally born infants.

What is the gut-brain axis?

refers to the biochemical signaling between the GI tract and the central nervous system, influencing conditions like anxiety and autism.

What characterizes acute infections?

come on rapidly, with severe but short-lived effects, such as influenza.

Define nosocomial infections.

are infections acquired in a hospital setting.

What are true pathogens?

are capable of causing disease in healthy persons with normal immune defenses, such as the influenza virus.

What are opportunistic pathogens?

cause disease when the host's defenses are compromised or when they grow in a part of the body that is not natural to them.

What does the term 'endogenous infections' refer to?

occur when normal flora is introduced to a site that was previously sterile.

What is the incubation period in the context of infectious disease?

is the time from initial contact with the infectious agent to the appearance of first symptoms.

What is considered an asymptomatic infection?

is one where the host is infected but does not show any signs of disease.

What is the significance of the epidemiological study?

is the study of the frequency and distribution of disease and health-related factors in human populations.

Describe the two types of bacterial toxins.

are not secreted but released after the cell is damaged, while are secreted by a living bacterial cell into the infected tissue.

What is microbial diversity in relation to the microbiome project?

The discovered vast diversity among core microbes in human microbiomes, showing similarities in metabolism rather than specific species.

What is the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

is the principal government agency responsible for tracking infectious diseases nationwide.

What environment is typically the innermost of the human body?

Internal organs, tissues, and fluids are generally microbe-free and considered sterile.