P. aeruginosa Gram negative bacilli Aerobic non-fermenting Chromatid size 5.7 Mb Found in soil, vegetation, water
P. aeruginosa and Nosocomial Infections Found in hospital environment in moist reservoirs: food, cut flowers, sinks, toilets, floor mops, medical equipment, disinfectant solutions. Common problem in immunocompromised patients, burn victims, resident catheters, cystic fibrosis Resistant to antibiotics
P. Aruginosa Virulence Factors I Adhesins Alginate Production Endotoxin Neuraminidase Exotoxin A Exoenzyme S
P. Aruginosa Virulence Factors II Elastolytic Activity - LasA, LasB Phospholipase C Pyocyanin, Pyochelin Antibiotic Resistance
Mycobacteria Non-motile, aerobic gram positive bacilli Acid-fast Slow growth Resistant to detergents Immunostimulatory 74 different species, a third associated with human disease e.g M. tuberculosis, M. leprae
Mycobacteria
M. Tuberculosis Diagnosis Mantoux test – PPD Positive test – Redness and swelling (erythema) Hardening (induration) Disadvantages – BCG Vaccination Slow development Anergy
M. Leprae Disease – Leprosy (Hansen’s disease): tuberculoid and lepromatous form. Virulence factors – unknown Transmission – Lepromatous leprosy: Highly infectious Tuberculoid leprosy: Low
N. gonorrhoea !Aerobic, gram negative cocci. !Horizontal and vertical transmission !Health Problem: High rate of asymptomatics Antigenically variable
N. gonorrhoea Virulence Factors Capsule Pilus (PilE, PileS antigenic variation) Opa (Slipped strand mispairing) LOS Iron binding proteins: Tbp1,2,Lbp Protease
Stages in interaction of N. gonorrhoeae with cultured mammalian cells
Phase Variation II: Slipped Strand Mispairing