Textbook Question
Which of the following diseases is typically mild?
a. Brazilian purpuric fever
b. Bartonellosis
c. Pediatric meningitis
d. Cat scratch disease
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Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - A Brief History of Microbiology31
- Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Microbiology28
- Ch. 3 - Cell Structure and Function39
- Ch. 4 - Microscopy, Staining, and Classification25
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism51
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth37
- Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics51
- Ch. 8 - Recombinant DNA Technology21
- Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment36
- Ch. 10 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Body: Antimicrobial Drugs21
- Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes29
- Ch. 12 - Characterizing and Classifying Eukaryotes34
- Ch. 13 - Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions23
- Ch. 14 - Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology35
- Ch. 15 - Innate Immunity34
- Ch. 16 - Adaptive Immunity21
- Ch. 17 - Immunization and Immune Testing29
- Ch. 18 - Immune Disorders22
- Ch. 19 - Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria25
- Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli28
- Ch. 21 - Rickettsias, Chlamydias, Spirochetes, and Vibrios25
- Ch. 22 - Pathogenic Fungi47
- Ch. 23 - Parasitic Protozoa, Helminths, and Arthropod Vectors44
- Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses23
- Ch. 25 - Pathogenic RNA Viruses30
- Ch. 26 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology29
- Ch. 27 - Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes22
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 20, Problem 11
What virulence factors allow Gram-negative anaerobes to cause disease?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to cause disease by overcoming host defenses.
Identify that Gram-negative anaerobes have specific virulence factors such as endotoxins, which are components of their outer membrane lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that trigger strong immune responses.
Recognize that these bacteria often produce enzymes like proteases, collagenases, and hyaluronidases that degrade host tissues and facilitate invasion.
Note that some Gram-negative anaerobes produce capsules or slime layers that help them evade phagocytosis by host immune cells.
Consider that these bacteria can form biofilms, which protect them from antibiotics and immune system attacks, enhancing their persistence and pathogenicity.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Virulence Factors
Virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens that enable them to colonize hosts, evade the immune system, and cause disease. In Gram-negative anaerobes, these include enzymes, toxins, and surface structures that facilitate infection and tissue damage.
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Virulence
Gram-negative Anaerobes
Gram-negative anaerobes are bacteria that do not require oxygen for growth and have a characteristic outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides. Their unique cell wall structure contributes to their pathogenicity and resistance to certain immune responses.
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Mechanisms of Pathogenicity in Anaerobes
Pathogenic mechanisms in Gram-negative anaerobes include production of endotoxins (like lipopolysaccharide), exotoxins, proteolytic enzymes, and factors that disrupt host tissues or immune defenses, enabling these bacteria to invade and persist in anaerobic environments.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following is a bile-tolerant anaerobe?
a. Bacteroides
b. Escherichia
c. Shigella
d. Prevotella
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Textbook Question
What single biochemical test result distinguishes gamma-proteobacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae from gammaproteobacteria in the family Pasteurellaceae?
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Textbook Question
What attribute of Coxiella burnetii enables it to survive desiccation and heat for an extended time?
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Textbook Question
Which bacterium causes infections in many burn victims?
a. Moraxella catarrhalis
b. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
c. Escherichia coli
d. Bartonella bacilliformis
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Textbook Question
Which of the following statements is true of Q fever?
a. For many years its cause was questionable.
b. It was first described in 1976 during an outbreak in Quincy, Massachusetts.
c. Researchers found it could be effectively treated with quinine.
d. The sharp spikes of fever on patients' temperature charts resemble porcupine quills.
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