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Microbiology Exam 3 Study Guide Flashcards

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  • Selective toxicity

    Selective toxicity is the ability of a drug to target microbial cells without damaging host cells.

  • Therapeutic index

    Therapeutic index measures the safety of a drug; it is the ratio of the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose.

  • Bactericidal vs bacteriostatic drugs

    Bactericidal drugs kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth.

  • Broad-spectrum vs narrow-spectrum antimicrobial drugs

    Broad-spectrum drugs target a wide range of bacteria; narrow-spectrum drugs target specific types.

  • Mechanism of beta-lactam antibiotics

    Beta-lactam antibiotics inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by targeting peptidoglycan cross-linking.

  • Antimicrobials inhibiting protein synthesis

    Drugs can inhibit protein synthesis by targeting the 30S or 50S ribosomal subunits in bacteria.

  • Drugs inhibiting DNA replication and transcription

    Some antimicrobials block bacterial DNA replication or RNA transcription to stop growth.

  • Antimicrobials interfering with metabolic pathways

    Certain drugs inhibit bacterial metabolic pathways like folic acid synthesis, essential for DNA and RNA production.

  • Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance

    Resistance mechanisms include drug inactivation, target modification, decreased permeability, and efflux pumps.

  • Spread of antimicrobial resistance genes

    Resistance genes spread via horizontal gene transfer and plasmids among bacteria.

  • Pathogenicity vs virulence

    Pathogenicity is the ability to cause disease; virulence is the degree of pathogenicity.

  • Steps of microbial infection

    Infection steps: exposure, adhesion, invasion, colonization, and disease.

  • Structures for microbial adhesion

    Microbes use fimbriae, pili, and glycocalyx to adhere to host cells.

  • Role of biofilms

    Biofilms help microbes colonize surfaces and resist antimicrobial treatments.

  • Exotoxins vs endotoxins

    Exotoxins are secreted proteins; endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria cell walls.

  • Pathogen evasion of immune defenses

    Pathogens evade immunity using capsules, antigenic variation, and intracellular survival.

  • Epidemiology definition

    Epidemiology is the study of disease distribution and determinants in populations.

  • Modes of disease transmission

    Diseases spread via contact, vehicle, and vector transmission.

  • Innate immunity physical barriers

    Physical barriers include skin, epithelial junctions, and mucous membranes.

  • Complement system function

    The complement system enhances immune responses and forms the membrane attack complex (MAC) to lyse pathogens.

  • Phagocytosis steps

    Phagocytosis involves recognition, engulfment, digestion, and elimination of pathogens.

  • Adaptive immunity characteristics

    Adaptive immunity has specificity, memory, and distinguishes between primary and secondary responses.

  • Humoral vs cellular immunity

    Humoral immunity is mediated by B cells and antibodies; cellular immunity is mediated by T cells.

  • Antibody classes

    Major antibody classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE.

  • Antibody mechanisms of action

    Antibodies neutralize pathogens, opsonize for phagocytosis, agglutinate microbes, and mediate ADCC.

  • Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

    MHC I presents antigens to cytotoxic T cells; MHC II presents to helper T cells.

  • Active vs passive immunity

    Active immunity involves host antibody production; passive immunity is transfer of antibodies from another source.

  • Natural vs artificial immunity

    Natural immunity occurs via infection or maternal transfer; artificial immunity is induced by vaccines or antibody therapy.