Chapter10: Infection Control
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3RQ
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Question
Explain the factors contributing to pathogenicity and virulence of microbes.
Expert Solution
Step 1
Not all microbes are pathogenic, only the microbes having the potential to cause disease is known as pathogenic microbe. A Virulent microbe can cause severe damage to a host. The ability of a pathogenic microbe to cause disease is based on its virulence factors.
Step 2
The factors causing the Pathogenicity and virulence of microbes are as follows;
- Adherence Factors-Certain microbes consist of a special structure knows as pilli .with the help of the pilli microbes can attach to a host cell to invade the genetic material inside a cell.
- Invasion Factors-After attachment to the host cell the genetic material can be invaded which will be incorporated to host the chromosome.
- The presence of Capsules-opsonization and phagocytosis are the processes by which microbes can be immunologically destroyed. But if a capsule is present surrounding microbes resistant to the above two processes.
- Endotoxins and Exotoxins-lipopolysaccharide endotoxin cause fever and induces other toxic events.
- Siderophores- This is a factor by which microbes get potency to compete with the host iron.
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