MICROBIOLOGY LECTURE 4 – Host-Parasite Relationship - Dra.

pathways
Evelina N. Lagamayo 4. Eukaryotic parasites have evolved through
Notes from Lecture accidental contact
USTMED ’07 Sec C – AsM o Examples:
 Free-living amoeba Naegleria,
SYMBIOTIC ASSOCIATION opportunistically invade the human
• commensalisms body and cause disease
• mutualism  Several spp. of nematode worms
• parasitism that can live either as parasites or
free-living organisms (Strongyloides
MUTUALISM stercoralis)
 Trypanosomes were primarily
adapted as parasites of blood
When relationships When relationships feeding flies and secondarily
move in this direction, COMMENSALISM move in this direction, become parasites of mammals
the infectious process reestablishment of a
begins healthy host occurs
5. Parasite adaptation to overcome host
inflammatory and immune responses
 The environment in which the
PARASITISM parasite lives (the body of the host)
is not passive; it is capable of an
Commensalism active response to the process of the
- one species of organism uses the body of a larger parasite
species  Pressure of infection has been a
- commensal microbes can benefit the host: major influence in evolution,
o by preventing colonization by more pathogenic development of inflammatory and
species (e.g. the intestinal flroa) immune response of humans
o by producing metabolites that are used by the
host (e.g. the bacteria and protozoa in the • Changes in parasites create new problems for hosts
ruminant stomach) - Example:
o can merge into either mutualism or parasitism o HIV infections – changes in the virus have
permitted extensive infections in humans
Mutualism o Acquisition of drug resistance in bacteria and
- reciprocal benefits on the two organisms involved protozoa
o Ex. Bacteria and protozoa living in the
stomachs of domestic ruminants – play an • Evasion Strategies
important role in digestion and utilization of Strategy Example
cellulose
Elicit minimal Herpes simplex virus survives in host cells for
o In humans: good health and resistance to
response long period in a latent stage; no pathology
colonization by pathogens, depends on the
Evading effects of Mycobacteria – survive unharmed in
integrity of the normal commensal enteric
response granulomatous response designed to localize
bacteria
and destroy infection
Depress host’s HIV – destroy T cells
Parasitism
response Malaria – depresses immune responsiveness
- symbiotic relationship that benefits only the parasite
Antigenic change Viruses, spirochetes, trypanosomes all
o many parasites are harmful to the host
change target antigens so host response is
o some are not pathogenic (e.g. when the
ineffective
natural host is in good health)
Rapid replication Viruses, bacteria, protozoa – produce acute
o Ex. Rabies virus coexists with many wild
infections before recovery and immunity
animals but can be fatal in humans
Survival in weakly Genetic heterogeneity in host population
o E. histolytica cysts in healthy carriers
responsive means some individuals respond weakly or
individuals not at all, allowing organism to reproduce
• Characteristics of Parasitism freely
o Many different groups of organism are
parasitic and all animals are parasitized (Ex. • Host Adaptations to overcome changes in parasites
Viruses) - Example:
o Selective pressure exerted by falciparum
• Disadvantages of Parasitism malaria which is responsible for the
o Several adaptations have evolved to promote persistence of many alleles associated with
prolonged survival in the outside world and hemoglobinopathies (sickle-cell hemoglobin)
maximize successful host contact  They persist because they are
o Ex. Virus particles, bacterial spores, protozoan associated with resistance to
cysts and worm eggs infection
o Social and behavioral changes can be as
• Evolution of Parasitism important as genetic changes in altering host-
1. Bacterial Parasite evolved through accidental parasite relations
contact:
 Ex. E. coli with other free-living o Social and behavioral changes and ID
bacteria 1. Living
 Blood feeding arthropods as their  causes: altered environments (e.g.
parasites have access to tissues of air conditioning)
animals on which they feed  results: water used in cooling
2. Many bacterial parasites have evolved to live systems provides suitable growth
inside the host cells conditions for Legionella bacteria
 survival of the microbe depends spread in aerosols
upon the possession of surface or 2. Food
metabolic properties that prevents  cause: changes in food production
digestion and destruction by the and food handling practices
host cell  results: intensive husbandry under
 integrated their biology with that of antibiotic protection leads to drug
the host cell resistant bacteria in animal products
3. The pathway of virus evolution is uncertain deep freeze-storage; fast food
a. Viruses evolved from cellular ancestors production and inadequate cooking
by a process of secondary simplification allows bacteria and toxins to enter
b. Viruses are primitively non-cellular body (eg. Listeria, Salmonella)
c. Viruses were fragments of the nuclear 3. Medicine
material of other organisms and have  causes:
always been parasitic a. routine use of antibiotics in
o modern viruses may have arisen by all 3
 medicine;
b. routine use of immunosuppressive
therapy
 results:
a. emergence of antibiotic resistant
bacteria as hazards to hospitalized
patients (e.g. multiply resistant S.
aureus)
b. opportunistic infections in patients
with reduced resistance (e.g.
Pseudomonas, Candida &
Pneumocystis)
4. Sex
 cause: altered sexual habits
 results: promiscuity increases
transmission of sexually transmitted
diseases (e.g. gonorrhea, genital
herpes, AIDS)
5. Water
 causes:
a. breakdown of filtration systems
b. overuse of limited water supplies
 result: transmission of animal
infections through contaminants
leading to diarrheal and other
infections (e.g. Cryptosporidiosis,
giardiasis, leptospirosis)
6. Pets
 cause: increase in ownership of
pets, particularly species
 results: transmission of animal
infections through contaminants
(e.g. Chlamydia, Salmonella,
Toxoplasma, Toxocara)
7. Travel
 cause: increased frequency of
journeys to tropical and subtropical
countries
 result: exposure to organisms and
vectors not found in country of
origin (e.g. malaria, viral
encephalitis)

-fin-

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