M icrobial M echanisms of

Pathogenicity

C hapter 15
 M echanisms of Pathogenicity

‡ Pathogenicity: The ability to cause disease

‡ V irulence: The extent of pathogenicity
‡ Primary pathogen
‡ O pportunistic pathogen
 How M icrobes E nter a Host
Portals of E ntry
‡ M ucous membranes
‡ Skin
‡ Parenteral route
‡ Prefer red portal of entry
 Numbers of Invading M icrobes

‡ I D 50: Infectious dose for 50% of the test

population

‡ L D 50: Lethal dose (of a toxin) for 50% of the

test population
 Bacillus anthracis

Portal of Entry ID50

Skin 10±50 endospores

Inhalation 10,000±20,000 endospores

Ingestion 250,000±1,000,000
endospores
 A dherence

‡ A dhesins/ligands bind to receptors on host cells

G lycocalyx: Streptococcus mutans

F imbriae: Escherichia coli
M protein: Streptococcus pyogenes

‡ Biofilms
Adherence

Figure 15.1
 How Pathogens Penetrate Host
Defenses
‡ C apsules and cell wall components
contribute to pathogenicity.
‡ E ffects of coagulases, kinases,
hyaluronidase, and collagenase.
‡ A ntigenic variation.
‡ %DFWHULDXVHWKHKRVWFHOO¶VF\WRVNHOHWRQWR
enter the cell.
 C ell W all Components
M protein resists phagocytosis
ƒ Streptococcus pyogenes

O pa protein inhibits T helper cells

ƒ Neisseria gonorrhoeae

M ycolic acid (waxy lipid) resists digestion

ƒ Mycobacterium tuberculosis
 E nzymes

Coagulase: Coagulates fibrinogen

K inases: Digest fibrin clots
H yaluronidase: H ydrolyzes hyaluronic acid
Collagenase: H ydrolyzes collagen
IgA proteases: Destroy IgA antibodies
Membrane Ruffling

Figure 15.2
 A ntigenic V ariation
‡ Alter surface proteins

Figure 22.16
 Penetration into the Host C ell
C ytoskeleton
‡ Invasins
± Sal monella
alters host
actin to enter
a host cell
‡ Use actin to
move from
one cell to
the next
± Listeria
Figure 15.2
How Pathogens Damage Host C ells:
E xotoxins and E ndotoxins

Figure 15.4
 E xotoxin

Source Mostly Gram +

Relation to microbe By-products of growing cell
Chemistry Protein
Fever? No
Neutralized by antitoxin? Yes
LD50 Small

Figure 15.4a
 E ndotoxins

Source Gram
Relation to Microbe Outer membrane
Chemistry Lipid A
Fever? Yes
Neutralized by Antitoxin? No
LD50 Relatively large

Figure 15.4b
 Superantigens

‡ C ause an intense immune response due to

release of cytokines from host cells

‡ Symptoms: fever, nausea, vomiting, diar rhea,

shock, and death
Mechanisms of Pathogenicity

Figure 15.9