BIO 375 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Neisseria, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Aerosol
Document Summary
Are divided into upper and lower respiratory tract infection. Upper: diphtheria is caused by an exotoxin produced by the g(+) bacillus, corynebacterium diphtheriae. Kills epithelial cells, which accumulate, forming a leathery pseudo-membrane. May cause widespread damage: particularly to the heart. Coryneform edge: childhood disease; not so much a problem now as there is a vaccine in the western world. Is around still: death by suffocation, downstream heart disease, treatment: antimicrobial therapy. Pathognomonic sign: bull neck lymph nodes have massive swelling with the pseudo-membrane, whooping cough is caused by the g(-) coccobacillus, Humans are the only reservoir; there is a particular threat to children under age 4. Transmission via contaminated droplets (talking, coughing, sneezing, and laughing) Bacilli bind to ciliated epithelial cells in upper respiratory tract: exotoxin damages ciliated cells which function to clear mucus from air passages, triggers deep a(cid:374)d rapid i(cid:374)spiratio(cid:374)s causi(cid:374)g (cid:862)whoop(cid:863)
