Ch. 14 terms

Lecithinase

A bacterial enzyme capable of breaking down lecithin

Kinase

A bacterial enzyme capable of dissolving clots; also known a fibrinolysin

Hemolysin

A bacterial enzyme capable of lysing erythrocytes

Hyaluronidase

A bacterial enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid; sometimes called diffusing or spreading factor, because it enables bacteria to invade deeper into tissue

Coagulase

A bacterial enzyme that causes plasma to clot; converts fibrinogen (a plasma protein) to fibrin

Acute disease

A disease having a sudden onset and short duration

Signs of a disease

Abnormalities indicative of disease that are discovered on examination of a patient; objective findings; examples include abnormal laboratory results; abnormal heart or breath sounds; lumps; abnormalities revealed by radiographs, computed tomographic scans, magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiography, and ultrasound

Symptoms of a disease

Indications of disease that are experienced by the patient; subjective; examples include aches and pains, chills, blurred vision, nausea

Pathogenicity

The ability to cause disease

Erythrogenic toxin

The exotoxin produced by S. pyogenes that causes scarlet fever; erythrogenic means "produces redness", referring to the red rash of scarlet fever

Exfoliative toxin

The exotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus that causes staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS); also known as epidermolytic toxin

Endotoxin

The lipid portion of the lipopolysaccharide found in the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria; intracellular toxin

Asymptomatic infection

The presence of a pathogen in or on the body, without any clinical symptoms of diseases; also referred to as a subclinical infection

Pathogenesis

The steps or mechanisms involved in the development of a disease

Collagenase

A bacterial enzyme that causes the breakdown of collagen

Leukocidin

A bacterial exotoxin capable of destroying leukocytes

Enterotoxin

A bacterial exotoxin specific for cells of the intestinal mucosa

Neurotoxin

A bacterial exotoxin that attacks the nervous system

Chronic disease

A disease having an insidious (slow) onset and a long duration

Asymptomatic disease

A disease having no symptoms; also referred to as a subclinical disease

Symptomatic disease

A disease in which the patient experiences symptoms

Secondary disease

A disease that follows an initial disease; if the secondary disease is an infection, it is referred to as a secondary infection

Hyaluronic acid

A gelatinous mucopolysaccharide that acts as an intracellular cement in body tissue

Streptokinase

A kinase produced by streptococci

Virulence

A measure of pathogenicity (i.e. some pathogens are more or less virulent than others)

Lecithin

A name given to several types of phospholipids that are essential constituents of animal and plant cells

Facultative intracellular pathogen

A pathogen that can live either intracellularly or extracellularly

Intraerythrocytic pathogen

A pathogen that lives within erythrocytes

Intraleukocytic pathogen

A pathogen that lives within leukocytes

Shock

A sudden, often severe, physical or mental disturbance, usually resulting from low blood pressure and a lack of oxygen in organs

Exotoxin

A toxin that is released from the cell; an extracellular toxin

Septic shock

A type of shock resulting from sepsis or septicemia

Latent infection

An asymptomatic infection capable of manifesting symptoms under particular circumstances or if activated

Systemic infection

An infection that has spread throughout the body; also known as a generalized infection

Localized infection

An infection that remains localized; that does not spread; also known as a local infection or focal infection

Virulence factors

Attributes or properties of a microorganism that contribute to its virulence or pathgoenicity (e.g., certain exoenzymes and toxins produced by pathogenic bacteria)

Receptors

Molecules on the surface of a host cell that a particular pathogen is able to recognize and attach to; also known as integrins

Adhesins

Molecules on the surface of a pathogen that enable the pathogen to recognize and bind to a particular receptor on the surface of a host cell; also known as ligands

Avirulent strains

Strains that are not virulent; not pathogenic; not capable of causing disease

Virulent strains

Strains that are pathogenic; capable of causing disease

Pyrogen

A fever-producing substance; also referred to as a pyrogenic substance

Staphylokinase

A kinase produced by S. aureus

Primary disease

The initial disease; often creates the conditions that lead to a secondary disease; if the primary disease is an infection, it is referred to as a primary infection

Collagen

The major protein in the white fibers of connective tissue, cartilage, and bone

Botulinal toxin

The neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum; causes botulism; known by various other names such as botulin and botulinum toxin

Tetanospasmin

The neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani that causes tetanus