Lecture #26 - Pathogens/Food Born Illness 1

Pathogen

An infectious disease-causing organism

Infection

Pathogen invades cell or multi-celled organism

Epidemic

Pathogen spreads through a population

Septicemia

Blood poisoning = infection in blood

Acute

Sudden onset of condition (eg. broken bone)

Vector

Can carry pathogens to other organisms

Pandemic

Pathogen spreads through many populations

Chronic

Persistent condition (e.g. Arthritis)

Foodborne Illness

Fecal-oral transmission is number 1 cause

Incubation Period

The time it takes for pathogens to make you sick

Invasive Infections

Pathogens enter body through walls of digestive tract. Can only release toxins

Leaky Guts Syndrome

Microbes slip in between digestive cells and get into the blood stream

Non-Invasive Infections

Pathogen doesn't enter body. You are sickened by toxins produced by the pathogens that were on the food before you ate it. Sometimes pathogens make toxins while in your digestive systems

Food-Poisoning

A non-invasive infection where toxins were on your food before you ate it. Onset is usually fast. Different species thrive at different temperatures, which is why food can spoil in your refrigerator

Best Fridge Temp:

Between 33-37F

Best Freezer Temp:

Below 0F

Danger Zone for Pathogen Growth:

40-140F

Is pure bleach the best way to kill surface pathogens?

No, you want a 10% bleach solution: 1 part bleach to 9 parts water

Viruses

Most common foodborne pathogen, 60% of all cases, but only 12% of deaths. Heat can inactivate most viruses, cold only slows them down. A complete virus particle is called a virion. Viruses cannot generate energy. Viruses are inactive until they are inside or attached to a host cell

DNA Viruses

Ability to persist (hide) in the host. Examples: Adenovirus, human papillomavirus (HPV), parvovirus, chickenpox, herpes, west Nile virus, zika virus, cytomegalovirus, and others

RNA Viruses

70% of all viruses. Highest mutation rates, meaning that RNA viruses can often adapt to new hosts or quickly re-infect former hosts. Examples: Influenza, coronavirus, rhinovirus, rabies, measles, mumps, hantavirus, ebola. polio, and many others

Retroviruses

Use reverse transcription to make DNA from its RNA genome. Examples: HIV, human t-cell leukemia virus, feline leukemia virus

Norovirus

Causes half of all viral foodborne illness and causes "stomach flu"

Rabies Virus

100% fatal. That's why you MUST vaccinate your pets

Dengue Fever Virus

Four subtypes. Transmitted by mosquitos. Infection with first subtype is rarely fatal, but re-infection with a different subtype can be fatal. This is why early vaccination efforts against this virus were catastrophic

Cytomegalovirus

50-80% of US adults infected by age 40; most show no symptoms. Might cause possible complications during pregnancy

Epstein-Barr Virus

90-95% of adults already infected. Causes Mononucleosis.

Varicella-Zoster Virus

Causes chickenpox (varicella). Very contagious through air or by contact with blisters. In older adults, can develop into a condition called shingles (zoster).

mPox

Related to smallpox with similar symptoms. Causes blisters but is rarely fatal.

Hepatitis Viruses

Types A, B, C, D, or E. Can cause inflammation and damage to the liver

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of skin, mucous membranes, or eyes caused by liver problems

Influenza Virus

Causes Flu. Type (strain) A worse than B. Evolve rapidly due to antigenic drift and antigenic shift, allowing them to avoid your immune response

Coronavirus

Highly contagious respiratory viruses named for surface spike protein that resemble Sun's corona. Some species causes variations of the common cold

Rhinovirus

Many different types. Most common cause (50%) of the common cold. Grows best in the nose, where temperatures are between 91-95F. C-type might be linked to increased asthma severity

Adenovirus

Common cause of cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, and pink eye. Infections more common in children than in adults

Conjunctivitis

Pink eye. Inflammation of the white part of the eye. Multiple causes

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Causes cold-like infections of lungs/respiratory tract. Common. Most children exposed by age 5. Adults can be re-infected. Dangerous to infants, elderly, those with compromised immune systems