Focus on bacterium

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

primary pathogen

sexual transmission - primary route of infection

Gram-negative diplococcus

intracellular replication

local and systemic infection

gonorrhoea

Streptococcus pyogenes

non-motile Gram-positive cocci

spectrum of diseases

virulence factors

fastidious facultative anaerobe

superantigens

c5a peptidase

pili

proteases

classic infection

toxin-related

immune mediated

tonsilitis

pneumonia

impetigo

scarlett fever

rheumatic fever

Staphylococcus aureus

degradative enzymes

exotoxins

Gram-positive cocci

type I - TSST (toxic shock syndrome toxin)

type II - cytolytic toxins

DNases

proteases

Collagenase

infection

septicaemia

endocarditis

eye infections

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

slightly curved bacilli

factors affecting respiratory infections

air-conditioning

lack of ventilation

overcrowding

seasons of the year

aerobic

non-sporing

acid fast waxy envelope

hard to stain

aids survival

rough, tough and buff colonies

virulence factors

sulfolipids

no typical toxins

thick cell wall

A superantigen is an extracellular toxin secreted by certain microbes. It binds to a MHC II molecule and the T-cell receptors causing an non-specific T-cell activation resulting in a massive inflammatory response.

Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxins (SpeA) on streptococcus pyogenes

Staphylococcal enterotoxins

Streptococcal scarlet fever toxin