C17L9 Pathogens

Antibiotic Resistance

Occurs when a microbe acquires a gene that allows it to resist the effects of an antibiotic.

Virulence

The relative ability of a microbe to cause disease.

Pathogen

A microbe that can cause disease.

Virulence Factors

Characteristic proteins that make pathogens more virulent.

Virulence Genes

The genes that encode for virulence factors.

Selective Pressure

The environmental factors that favor certain traits in bacteria, such as antibiotic resistance.

Over-prescription of Antibiotics

The excessive prescribing of antibiotics, often for viral infections, leading to increased antibiotic resistance.

SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus)

A virus similar to HIV that is virulent in certain species of monkeys but not in humans.

Antibiotic Overuse in Agriculture

Routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock, contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Biological Arms Race

The ongoing battle between pharmaceutical companies developing new antibiotics and bacteria evolving resistance.

Ebola Virus

A highly virulent virus that kills quickly, making it less efficient at spreading.

Species Specificity

The variation in how different pathogens affect different host species.

Characteristics of a Virulent Pathogen

life cycle that kills host cells

rapid growth rate

production of toxins

interfering with normal functions of the host

the ability to evade the immune system

resistance to antibiotics