Infection/Disease

factors for infection

communicability, infectivity, virulence, pathogenicity, portal of entry, and toxigenicity

Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)

Gram-positive cocci that is life threatening, opportunistic, and antibiotic resistant

exotoxins

enzymes that can damage the plasma membranes of host cells or can change cell function

endotoxins

produced by Gram-negative bacteria and activate inflammatory response and fever

bacteremia

presence of bacteria in blood

septicemia

growth of bacteria in blood

viral replication

viruses are not capable of independent reproduction and need a permissive host cell

steps of viral replication

1. copies of genetic material are made

2. new virions are formed and released from the cell to infect other host cells

3. some remain latent in host cell until activated by stress, hormone changes, or disease

cytopathic viral effects

inhibition of host cell DNA/RNA?protein synthesis, disruption of lysosomal membranes releasing enzymes that damage the cell, transform host cell into cancer cells, etc

antigenic drift

minor, gradual change from the accumulation of point mutations that allow the escape from the body’s antibodies; coomon example is influenza, this is why we need a new flu vaccine each year

antigenic shift

a major, abrupt change from reassortment when two or more viruses co-infect one cell, producing a very different virus; common example is influenza outbreaks like bird flu or swine flu

fungal infection

large microorganisms with thick, rigid cell walls without peptidoglycans

mycoses

the name for diseases caused by fungal infections

dermatophytes

fungi that invade the skin, hair, or nails and the disease they create are called tineas (ringworm)

Candida albicans (C. albicans)

most common cause of fungal infections and is an opportunistic yeast, also found in the normal microbiome

symbiotic

mutual relationship between parasite and host

protozoans

diseases include malaria, amoebae, flagellates, flukes, nematodes, and tapeworms