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MCB 229 Spring 2000 Study Guide 20 Prof. Terry

1. These chapters include short "biographies" of all major infectious diseases. I've selected a limited number for your study and quiz/exam purposes, though you are encouraged to read the rest as well. I will only hold you responsible for those specifically identified below.
2. For each of the specific diseases listed below, try to identify the following:
   a) name -- what is the pathogen called? Is it gram-positive or gram-negative? If multiple pathogens cause the same disease (e.g. meningitis), you don't need to remember them all, just scan the list of possible culprits so you could recognize them again.
   a) reservoir -- where is the pathogen normally found in nature (not the same as transmission)?
   b) transmission -- how does the pathogen get from its reservoir to a new host?
   c) major virulence factors -- what special "tricks" does the pathogen have that cause disease?
   d) symptoms -- what happens to infected hosts that makes them sick?
3. Diphtheria. What is the major preventive measure?
4. Bacterial meningitis. Which microbe is responsible for the majority of cases in U.S. children?
5. Pertussis. How widespread is this disease worldwide? What is the major preventive measure?
6. Cellulitis & impetigo, invasive strep A infections, rheumatic fever, strep throat, streptococcal pneumonia as examples of streptococcal diseases. What streptococcal species is the major culprit? How common is necrotizing fasciitis? What microbe is the leading cause of pneumonia (a name meaning simply "lung infection").
7. Tuberculosis. What is the global infection rate? Who is most at risk? What is a tubercule? What is MDR-TB?
8. Lyme disease. What are the stages of Lyme disease? Compare these with stages of syphilis (see below).
9. Plague. What are buboes? What distinguishes bubonic from pneumonic plague?
10. Anthrax. What is the normal type of human infection? What type of disease would be caused by airborne exposure to anthrax spores? Why do you think this is a favorite choice for biological warfare?
11. Gas gangrene. How abundant is the causative microbe? Under what conditions is the disease likely?
12. Gonorrhea. Try closing your text and writing out the name of the causative organism -- this is the most challenging spelling you'll encounter in microbiology! What medical problems arise from untreated gonorrhea? What fraction of women know they are infected? How many cases are thought to occur in the U.S. each year?
13. Leprosy. How many cases occur worldwide, and where? How does tuberculoid leprosy differ from lepromatous leprosy? What culture medium can you use to grow this microbe in a lab?
14. Impetigo, abcesses, carbuncles, toxic shock syndrome, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome as examples of staphylococcal diseases. Pathogenic staphylococci may be the "ultimate pathogen", rivaled only by pathogenic streptococci in the variety of diseases they can elicit. Examine Table 37.3 to appreciate the variety of virulence factors, as well as Figure 37.17 for graphic proof of their effects. "The horror, the horror!"
15. Syphylis. How do congenital and venereal syphilis differ? What are the stages of syphilis? How do they compare with stages of Lyme disease (see above)?
16. Tetanus. Compare the tetanus toxin with the botulin toxin (see below). How effective is treatment of tetanus? How is the disease controlled?
17. What is the difference between food intoxication and food-borne infection? How important are diarrheal diseases collectively in terms of world health?
18. Cholera. How does cholera toxin work? How much fluid is lost during an infection? How is cholera treated?
19. Botulism. Contrast the botulin toxin with tetanus toxin (see above). What causes infant botulism, and how can it be prevented?
20. Salmonellosis. What is a realistic estimate of the number of cases of this disease in the U. S. each year? How could you distinguish a case of salmonellosis from one of cholera?
21. Nongonoccocal urethritis. What distinguishes chlamydia from other bacteria? Approximately what % of NGU cases are due to Chlamydia? How does this disease compare with other venereal diseases in frequency? What complications can occur if NGU is not treated?
22. Trachoma. What impact does this disease have globally? How can it be controlled?
23. Mycoplasmal pneumonia. How does atypical pneumonia differ from typical pneumonia?
24. Epidemic typhus. What distinguishes rickettsias from other bacteria? Under what conditions does typhus become epidemic? Is it epidemic in the U. S.?
25. Dental caries & peridontal disease. What are odontopathogens? What genera of bacteria are odontopathogenic? What is the role of glucans in this process?
26. Nosocomial infections. How frequent are nosocomial infections? What tissues are most often infected?