AP Biology Bacterial Diseases

Anthrax

• Bacteria: bacillus anthracis

• Form endospores which go into a hibernation state

• Get from direct contact or inhalation of spores

• SS: edema (swelling), high fever, spores

• Primarily affects animals like sheep and cattle

Botulism

• Bacteria: clostridium botulinum

• Happens from eating improperly cooked food

• SS: flaccid paralysis

  • cannot contract muscles

• Used in botox to relax muscles and reduce wrinkles

Chlamydia

• Bacteria: chlamydia trachomatis

• Affects all mucus membranes

• STI, not STD

• Can cause scaring of the vas deferens and fallopian tubes

• Can cause scaring in cornea which causes a type of blindness called trachoma

• Silent infection, people often don’t know if they have it

Cholera

• Bacteria: vibrio cholera

• Spread by human feces through water supply

• SS: stomach ache, diarrhea

  • loss of electrolytes and dehydration

• Originated in India, spread by trade routes

Dental Caries

• Bacteria: streptococcus mutants (sobrinus)

• Forms biofilm on teeth to make plaque

• Spread through saliva, affects everyone

• SS: black spots on teeth, halitosis, tooth aches

• FF: secrete less saliva when you’re sleeping so that's why breath is worse in the morning

Diphtheria

• Bacteria: corynebacterium diptheriae

• Infects the respiratory tract of all people

• Spread through sneezing and direct contact

• Vaccines are available

Gonorrhea

• Bacteria: Neisseria Gonorrhoeae

• STI, not an STD

• SS: painful urination, pain or swelling in testicle

• Can infect any mucus membrane

• More common in men than women

Leprosy

• Bacteria: mycobacterium leprae

• Infects cooler parts of the body and and kills the neurons

  • often leads to amputations

• One of the oldest known diseases

• Can incubate, many are asymptomatic

Lyme Disease

• Bacteria: borrelia burgdorferi

• Bullseye rash is a common sign, similar to flu symptoms

• Spread by ticks

• One of the most common vector borne diseases

Peptic Ulcers

• Bacteria: helicobacter pylori

• Treated with antibiotics and pepto bismol

• Causes bloody feces

• 70% of people have no symptoms

• More common in men

Plague

• Bacteria: yersinia pestis

• Spready by flees in their saliva

• SS: chills, swollen lymphnodes, muscle aches

• 3 main types:

  • bubonic

  • pneumonic

  • septicemic

Pneumonia

• Bacteria: streptococcus, mycoplasma, Chlamydia, haemophius

• Can be treated with antibiotic

• Cannot breath in enough oxygen which causes a blueish tint to the skin called cyonosis

• Cought, not sneeze

  • lower respiratory = cough

  • upper respiratory = sneeze

• Vaccine for some types

Tuberculosis

• Bacteria: mycobacterium tuberculosis

• Can get from others coughing, spread through air

Typhoid Fever

• Bacteria: salmonella typhi

• Can get from unwashed fruits and vegetables (ingesting)

• SS: fever, sweats, headache, diarrhea

• One of the most common diseases on the Oregon Trail

Typhus

• Bacteria: richettsia typhi

• Spread by ticks, fleas and rats

• SS: fever, chills, rash, muscle aches

• Transmitted person to person after a bite from lice or mice

Syphilis

• Bacteria: treponema pallidum

• STI, not STD

• Three stages (in order):

  • chancre (sore at site of infection)

  • goes away and comes back as a widespread rash

  • goes away and comes back again which causes nerve damage

• Antibiotic available

• Most rapidly increasing STI in the U.S

Tetanus

• Bacteria: clostridium tetani

• Can get from rusty nails

• Booster vaccine every 10 years

• Causes spastic paralysis

  • muscles contract and don’t relax

  • reason for this disease also being called lockjaw

MRSA

• Bacteria: staphylococcus aureus

• Staph infection

• Direct contact

• Wrestling mats and artificial turf

• Antibiotic available

  • resistant forms are on the rise

• Flesh eating bacteria, amputation may be needed

Dysentery

• Bacteria: shigella dysenteriae

• Spread through contaminated water

• SS: bloody diarrhea, vomiting

• Antibiotic available