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