Pathogenesis, Disease, and Epidemiology
pathogenicity
the ability of a microorganism to causes disease by overcoming the defenses of a host
lysogenic conversion
the acquisition of new properties by a host cell infected by a lysogenic phage
adherence
the attachment of a microbe or phagocyte to another's plasma membrane or other surface
toxigenicity
the capacity of a microorganism to produce a toxin
etiology
the cause of a disease
contact inhibition
the cessation of animal cell movement and division as a result of contact with other cells
descriptive epidemiology
the collection and analysis of all data regarding the occurrence of a disease to determine its causes
reservoir of infection
the continual source of infection
primary infection
the initial illness
infection
the invasion or colonization of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
symbiosis
the living together of two different organisms or populations
pathogenesis
the manner in which a disease develops
transient microbiota
the microorganisms that are present in an animal for a short time without causing a disease
normal microbiota
the microorganisms that colonize a host without causing disease
mortality rate
the number of deaths resulting from a disease in a given period of time in relation to the total population
morbidity rate
the number of people affected by a disease in a given period of time in relation to the total population
sepsis
the presence of a toxin or pathogenic organism in the blood and tissue
toxemia
the presence of toxins in the blood
viremia
the presence of viruses in the blood
septicemia
the proliferation of pathogens in the blood, accompanied by fever; sometimes causes organ damage
period of convalescence
the recovery period, when the body returns to its predisease state
epidemiology
the science that studies when and where diseases occur and how they are transmitted
virulence
the severity of symptoms and signs; the degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism
contact transmission
the spread of disease by direct of indirect contact via droplets
indirect contact transmission
the spread of pathogens by fomites
experimental epidemiology
the study of a disease using controlled experiments
prodromal period
the time following the incubation period when the first symptoms of illness appear
period of decline
the time following the period of illness where symptoms and signs of disease are declining
incubation period
the time interval between the actual infection and first appearance of any signs or symptoms of disease
period of illness
the time where the symptoms and signs of disease are the most severe; can cause death
inclusion bodies
a granule or viral particle in the cytoplasm or nucleus of some infected cells; important in the identification of viruses that cause infection
compromised hot
a host whose resistance to infection is impaired
direct contact transmission
a method of spreading infection from one host to another through some kind of close association between the hosts
biofilms
a microbial community that usually forms as a slimy layer on a growth
primary pathogen
a microorganism that causes a disease in a healthy host, usually causes disease whenever present
opportunistic pathogen
a microorganism that does not ordinarily cause a disease but can become pathogenic under certain circumstances
emerging infectious diseases
a new or changing disease that is increasing or has the potential to increase in incidence in the near future
fomite
a nonliving object that can spread infection
antitoxins
a specific antibody produced by the body in response to a bacterial exotoxin or its toxoid
interferons
a specific group of cytokines. Alpha- and beta-IFNs are antiviral proteins produced by certain animal cells in response to a viral infection. Gamma-IFN stimulates macrophage activity
syndrome
a specific group of signs or symptoms that accompany a disease (not really infectious)
septic shock
a sudden drop on blood pressure induced by bacterial toxins
commensalism
a symbiotic relationship in which two organisms live in association and one is benefited while the other is neither benefited nor harmed
focal infection
a systemic infection that began as an infection in one place
mutualism
a type of symbiosis in which both organisms or populations are benefited
cytopathic effects
a visible effect on a host cell, caused by a virus, that may result in host cell damage or death
pandemic disease
a worldwide epidemic
latency
an asymptomatic period when a pathogen is inactive/dormant or cleared
receptors
an attachment for a pathogen on a host cell
toxoids
an inactivated toxin
subclinical infection
an infection that does not cause a noticeable illness
local infection
an infection where pathogens are limited to a restricted area of the body
secondary infection
an opportunistic infection resulting from primary, predisposing infection
disease
an unhealthy state of being, damaged tissue
superantigens
antigens that provoke a very intense immune response; cause an excessive release of cytokines (a storm), disrupt communication between immune response cells
contagious disease
any disease EASILY spread from one host to another
noncommunicable disease
any disease not spread from one host to another
communicable disease
any disease that can be spread from one host to another
shock
any life-threatening loss of blood pressure
predisposing factor
anything that makes the body more susceptible to a disease or alters the course of a disease
fimbriae
appendages on a bacterial cell used for attachment
vectors
1) a plasmid of virus used in genetic engineering to insert genes into a cell 2) an arthropod that carries disease-causing organisms from one host to another
progression of a disease
1. incubation period 2. prodromal period 3. illness 4. decline 5. convalescence
prevalence
a fraction of the population having a specific disease at a given time, usually per 100,000 and "right now"
incidence
a fraction of the population that contracts a disease during a specific time, usually per 100,000 and over a year
ligands
a carbohydrate-specific binding protein that projects from prokaryotic cells; also called adhesion
signs
a change due to a disease that a clinician can observe and measure
symptoms
a change in a bodily function that is felt by a patient as a result of a disease
intoxication
a condition resulting from the ingestion of a microbially produced toxin
bacteremia
a condition which there are bacteria in the blood
endemic disease
a disease constantly present in a population, a specific location
chronic disease
a disease that develops slowly; symptoms protracted
sporadic disease
a disease that occurs occasionally in a population
zoonoses
a disease that occurs primarily in wild and domestic animals but can be transmitted to humans
notifiable infectious diseases
a disease that physicians must report to the US Public Health Service
acute disease
a disease with rapid symptom development
subacute disease
a disease with symptoms that are mild/moderate and difficult to associate with a particular disease
antagonism
active opposition; when two drugs are less effective than either one alone, competition among microtubules
A-B toxins
bacterial exotoxins consisting of two polypeptides; originate in viral genomes which infects and transfers gene to bacterium -binds and attacks
exotoxins
bacterial toxic proteins produced within the cell and secreted out
streptolycins
hemolysins produced by streptococci
membrane-disrupting toxins
cause lysis of host cells by disrupting their phospholipid bilayer plasma membranes; leukocidins, hemolysins, streptolysins
analytical epidemiology
comparison of a diseased group and a healthy group to determine the cause of the disease
Koch's postulates
criteria used to determine the causative agent of infectious diseases
pathogens
disease causing microorganisms
lipopolysaccharides
forms the outer membrane of 1/2 of the Gram-negative bacterial cell walls, inflammatory agent, released when cell dies ex: E. coli
host specificity
host has a receptor for the pathogen depending on where they are/what type the are
hemolysins
membrane-disrupting toxins that destroy erythrocytes
leukocidins
membrane-disrupting toxins that kill phagocytic leukocytes
mechanism
molecular tools that cause physiological change or damage, cause the disease in humans
superinfection
opportunistic infection from microbiota damage form antibiotics
carriers
organisms that harbor pathogens and transports them to others
endotoxins
part of the outer portion of the cell wall (lipid A) for most Gram-negative bacteria; released on destruction of the cell
genotoxins
produced by Gram-negative bacteria, which damage DNA
exoenzymes
produced by bacteria and secreted out to damage tissue
toxic proteins
specialized mechanisms of impact
systemic infection
when an infection is body/system-wide
epidemic disease
when the incidence of a disease rises well above endemic incidence in a short time