Notes General Knowing statistics by numbers is not necessary, but do know the significance of
the pathogens covered in terms of their relative burden on human populations (for example, it is not necessary to know that influenza infections are responsible for ~200,000 hospitalizations each year, at a cost of ~$80 billion; but do know that the common cold is the most common human infectious disease, or that the causative agent of tuberculosis is the human pathogen with highest prevalence) Know mode of transmission and reservoirs for all pathogens that were discussed in detail For viral pathogens, know the type of nucleic acid in their genome; the polarity (in the case of single stranded genomes) is not necessary to know Where relevant, know whether a vaccine exists against the pathogen in question. It is not necessary to know the type of vaccine in each particular case (e.g., know that a vaccine is available against the predominant circulating seasonal strains of influenza, whereas no vaccine exists against the common cold; however, don't worry about knowing whether the influenza vaccine is liveattenuated or inactivated or subparticle)
Host-microbe interactions 1 (Lecture 19)
1. The human microbial ecosystem: a. Microbiota vs. Microbiome b. Co-evolution of humans and their microbiota What do convergence in the human phylogenetic tree, and those of the associated microbiota, say about the stability our the human microbiota c. Concepts: symbiosis/symbiont, dysbiosis, pathobiont, pathogen d. Examples of conditions associated with imbalances of the normal microbiota (note that association does not imply causation): i. Dental caries ii. Obesity iii. Chronic inflammation e. Functions of the intestinal microbiota (know the main groups of bacteria that constitute the intestinal microbiota of mammals) i. Provision of essential nutrients ii. Breakdown of indigestible compounds and greater energy harvesting efficiency iii. Competitive exclusion of pathogens (protect against colonization) iv. Contribute to, and influence the development of intestinal mucosa and the immune system 2. The hygiene hypothesis
Host-microbe interactions 2 - On being a pathogen (Lecture 20) 1. Identifying microbial agents of disease: Koch's postulates
2. Causing disease a. Adhesion
b.
c.
d. e.
f.
Know different strategies for adhering to host cells Understand what determines binding specificity, and what are the consequences for a microorganism's ability to establish an infection Colonization i. Know and understand examples of strategies a microorganism may use to procure the necessary nutrients to grow and establish an infection Delivery of effectors i. Know two common mechanisms for the delivery of effectors Breaching of the host's innate barriers i. Know mechanisms for entering and spreading through tissue Avoiding the action of the immune system i. Strategies for hiding from the immune system ii. Strategies for countering the action of the immune system Action of toxic effectors i. Know the difference between toxin and endotoxin ii. Understand the meaning of superantigens, and how they lead to toxic effects
i. ii.
Diseases of the respiratory system - Tuberculosis (lecture 21)
1. Causative agent a. Know unique traits that make the tuberculosis bacillus stand out, and their implications for detection, study, and treatment b. Know means of transmission and reservoir 2. a. Disease Major symptoms and signs b. Main dynamics (or outcomes) of the infection/disease c. Know and understand granulomas i. Major players involved in the formation of granulomas ii. Conditions that may interfere with the formation of granulomas, and the consequences of failure to form them d. Methods for detecting (diagnosing) the infection e. Understand the reasons for combination therapy, and recognize the difficulties associated with drug resistance f. Know the meaning of D.O.T.S. Knowing the name and mode of action of drugs used to treat tuberculosis is not necessary
Viral diseases of the respiratory system (lecture 22)
1. The common cold a. Causative agent b. Key symptom(s), present or absent, that differentiate it from influenza respiratory disease 2. Influenza respiratory disease a. Causative agent i. Transmission mode and reservoir(s) ii. Major structural features, specially as they relate to the process of infection or pathogenesis iii. Mutational processes
b. The disease i. Major symptoms and potential complications ii. Significance in history iii. Significance of the potential for changes in tropism of influenza strains iv. Cytokine storm v. Understand the different age mortality distributions in seasonal vs. epidemic/pandemic influenza infections vi. Source of viruses for vaccine production
Viral diseases of the respiratory system (lecture 23)
1. Arboviruses a. Definition (also, know the meaning of biological vector) b. Examples c. Yellow fever i. Know the historical significance of yellow fever/yellow fever virus d. Dengue Fever i. Causative agent, reservoirs and vectors ii. Number of serotypes/genotypes iii. Antibody Dependent Enhancement iv. The disease 1. Major symptoms 2. Potential complications 3. Significance of dengue fever in disease emergence and spread v. Basis for ongoing trials for vector control
Gastrointestinal pathogens (lecture 24) 1. Foodborne infections vs. intoxications (poisoning)
2. Diarrhea a. Inflammatory vs. non-inflammatory (secretory) b. Primary treatment 3. Examples of foodborne diseases a. Staphylococcus aureus Food poisoning b. Cholera i. Causative agent ii. Mechanism of disease (type and effect of toxin) iii. Type of diarrhea c. Escherichia coli gastrointestinal infections Know the meaning of serotype, and the 3 types of antigens used to classify strains of E. coli, i.e., 'O', 'H', & 'K') i. General characteristics of E. coli ii. STEC/EHEC vs. EAEC iii. Pathogenicity Islands and lysogenic conversion in the context of E. coli pathogenesis iv. The disease 1. Symptoms of STEC/EHEC diarrhea 2. HUS, and why antibiotics are dangerous in the context of
Shiga-toxin producing E. coli infections
v. Peculiar features of the 2011 European (mostly German) E. coli
diarrhea outbreak
d. Salmonella gastroenteritis i. General characteristics of Salmonella species ii. Differentiate between typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella
infections
Genitourinary bacterial pathogens (lecture 25)
1. General characteristics of the causative agents of gonorrhea, chlamydiosis, and syphilis 2. Common features and symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydiosis 3. Antigen variation in the context of gonorrhea 4. Syphilis a. Stages of disease progression and associated symptoms b. Mental syphilis c. Congenital syphilis d. Treatment for the infection, and its effect on the damage associated with the different stages of the disease