MCB 3020C Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Opportunistic Infection, Mary Mallon, Human Microbiota
Document Summary
Microbes normally grow on and in the bodies of higher organisms in large numbers: 10. 14 bacteria: (10 times more bacteria than cells on body). In-utero: fetus free of microbes but at/during birth begin establishment of normal flora that do not produce disease under normal conditions. Most of the organisms we carry around on our skin, in our mouth, gut, etc. every day are considered normal flora and are essential to maintain our health: normal micro flora called human microbiome. Most, but not all, microorganisms are benign. It is normal flora that protect us against harmful microbes through a process called competition: normal animal:106 salmonella infection, gnotobiotic animal (sterile environment): 10 disease. Pathogenic relationship-microbe (pathogen) causes damage to host; thus, pathogen is name given to microbial parasite. Normal flora-microorganisms normally found in or on the body that typically do not cause disease.
