NSB 230 – MICROBIOLOGY
CHAPTER 13 – STUDY GUIDE
1. Briefly describe the three most significant interactions between microbes and human hosts.
2. Define:
a. Normal microbiota.
b. Infection.
c. Pathogen
d. Infectious disease.
e. Disease.
f. Transient microbe.
g. Resident microbe.
h. Microbial antagonism.
i. Probiotics.
j. Prebiotics.
k. True pathogens.
l. Opporunistic pathogens.
m. Virulence.
n. Virulence factor.
o. Exogenous agent.
p. Endogenous agent.
q. Infectious dose.
r. Antiphagocytic factors.
s. Exoenzymes.
t. Toxigenicity.
u. Asymptomatic infection.
v. Chronic carrier.
w. Sequelae.
x. Pathogen vector.
y. Zoonosis.
z. Contagious.
aa. Nosocomial infections.
bb. Fomites.
cc. Epidemiology
3. Discuss the following statement: “contact without infection and infection without disease are the rule”.
4. List the sites in the human body that harbor normal resident microbiota.
5. How do microorganisms initially colonize a newborn?
6. How is the colonization different if the baby is delivered by caesarean section instead of the birth canal?
7. How is the microbial colonization different if the baby is bottle-fed compared to breast-fed?
8. What areas of the skin are colonized by transient or resident microbiota? What factors affect those
microbial populations? Give examples of bacteria commonly found in/on the skin.
9. What areas of the GI tract are colonized by resident microbiota? What factors affect those microbial
populations? Give examples of bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity and the large intestine.
10. What areas of the respiratory tract are colonized by resident microbiota? Name the microorganisms that
commonly colonize the upper respiratory tract and their specific microhabitats.
11. What areas of the genitourinary tract are colonized by resident microbiota? What factors can affect the
resident microbiota of the female genital tract?
12. Describe the major findings of the human microbiome project.
13. What sites/fluids in the human body should be sterile?
14. What factors have been observed to weaken host defenses and increase susceptibility to infection?
15. Outline and briefly describe the major factors involved in the development of an infection.
16. What is the purpose of the biosafety categories for pathogens adopted by the CDC?
17. What is the importance of a microbial portal of entry? Specify potential entry sites through the skin, GI
tract, respiratory tract, urogenital tract.
18. What does the STORCH acronym stands for? How can these pathogens infect a fetus?
19. What is the relationship between the infectious dose and the virulence of a microorganism?
20. How do microorganisms achieve adhesion to their host? Name the structures used for this attachment.
21. What factors can help microorganisms enter host tissues?
22. Compare and contrast endotoxins vs. exotoxins.
23. Describe A-B exotoxins and their mechanism of action.
24. Describe the four stages of clinical infections.
25. Name and describe the different patterns of infection.
26. What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
27. Briefly describe the signs of inflammation.
28. Briefly describe the signs of infection in the blood.
29. What are the common portals of exit of pathogens from the human host?
30. Describe microbial latency.
31. What is the difference between a reservoir, a source and a carrier?
32. What is the difference between an asymptomatic carrier and a passive carrier?
33. What are the different types of asymptomatic carriers?
34. What animals are typical pathogen vectors?
35. What is the difference between a biological vector and a mechanical vector?
36. Name examples of zoonotic infections caused by:
a. Bacteria
b. Viruses
c. Eukaryotic parasites
37. Compare the concepts of communicable diseases vs. non-communicable diseases.
38. Describe how communicable diseases can be acquired.
39. What factors have been tied to the development of nosocomial infections?
40. What healthcare processes can lead to development of nosocomial infections?
41. What surfaces/objects can act as fomites?
42. Describe protective measures used to prevent nosocomial infections.
43. What are universal precautions?
44. What is the difference between prevalence and incidence?
45. What is the difference between mortality rate and morbidity rate?
46. Name and describe the different patterns of infectious disease occurrence.
47. Outline Koch’s postulates. What are these postulates used for?