Transcript LD 50
Chapter 15
Microbial Mechanisms
of Pathogenicity
Biology 205
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity: The ability to cause disease.
Virulence: The extent of pathogenicity.
Portals of Entry
Mucous membranes
Skin
Parenteral route
Numbers of Invading Microbes
ID50: Infectious dose for 50% of the test
population.
LD50: Lethal dose (of a toxin) for 50% of the
test population.
Bacillus Anthracis
Portal of Entry
ID50
Skin
10-50 endospores
Inhalation
10,000-20,000 endospores
Ingestion
250,000-1,000,000
endospores
Adherence
Adhesions/ligands bind to receptors on host cells
Glycocalyx: Streptococcus mutans
Fimbriae: Escherichia coli
M protein: Streptococcus pyogenes
Opa protein: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Tapered end: Treponema pallidum
Enzymes
Coagulase: Coagulate blood
Kinases: Digest fibrin clots
Hyaluronidase: Hydrolyses hyaluronic acid
Collagenase: Hydrolyzes collagen
IgA proteases: Destroy IgA antibodies
Siderophores: Take iron from host iron-binding
proteins
Antigenic variation: Alter surface proteins
Penetration into the Host Cell
Figure 15.2
Toxins
Toxin: Substances that contribute to
pathogenicity.
Toxigenicity: Ability to produce a toxin.
Toxemia: Presence of toxin in the host's blood.
Toxoid: Inactivated toxin used in a vaccine.
Antitoxin: Antibodies against a specific toxin.
Endotoxins
Source:
Relation to microbe:
Gram –
Present in LPS of outer membrane
Chemistry:
Lipid
Fever?
Yes
Neutralized by
antitoxin?
No
LD50:
Relatively large
Figure 15.4b
Exotoxin
Source:
Relation to microbe:
Chemistry:
Mostly Gram +
By-products of growing cell
Protein
Fever?
No
Neutralized by
antitoxin?
LD50:
Yes
Small
Figure 15.4a
Exotoxins
A-B toxins
Figure 15.5
Exotoxins
Membrane-disrupting toxins
Lyse host’s cells by
Making protein channels in the plasma membrane
(e.g., leukocidins, hemolysins).
Disrupting phospholipid bilayer.
Exotoxins
Superantigens
Cause an intense immune response due to
release of cytokines from host cells.
Fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shock, and
death.
Exotoxins
Specific for a structure or function in host cell
Figure 15.4a
Exotoxins
Exotoxin
Lysogenic
conversion
A-B toxin.
Inhibits protein
synthesis.
+
Streptococcus pyogenes
Membrane-disrupting.
Erythrogenic.
+
Clostridium botulinum
A-B toxin. Neurotoxin
+
C. tetani
A-B toxin. Neurotoxin
Vibrio cholerae
A-B toxin. Enterotoxin
+
Superantigen.
+
Corynebacterium
diphtheriae
Staphylococcus aureus
Endotoxins
Figure 15.6
Cytopathic Effects of Viruses
Table 15.4
Pathogenic Properties of Fungi
Fungal waste products may cause symptoms.
Chronic infections provoke an allergic response.
Tichothecene toxins inhibit protein synthesis.
Fusarium
Proteases
Candida, Trichophyton
Capsule prevents phagocytosis.
Cryptococcus
Ergot toxin
Claviceps
Pathogenic Properties of Fungi
Aflatoxin
Aspergillus
Mycotoxins
Neurotoxins: Phalloidin, amanitin
Amanita
Pathogenic Properties of Protozoa
Presence of protozoa.
Protozoan waste products
may cause symptoms.
Avoid host defenses by
Growing in phagocytes
Antigenic variation
Pathogenic Properties of Helminths
Use host tissue.
Presence of parasite
interferes with host
function.
Parasite's metabolic
waste can cause
symptoms.
Pathogenic Properties of Algae
Paralytic shellfish
poisoning
Dinoflagellates
Domoic acid
intoxication
Diatoms
Portals of Exit
Respiratory tract
Coughing and sneezing
Gastrointestinal tract
Feces and saliva
Genitourinary tract
Urine and vaginal secretions
Skin
Blood
Biting arthropods and needles or syringes
Mechanisms of Pathogenicity
Figure 15.9