PATHOGEN ADAPTATIONS to adhere and transmit

For a successful infection, the pathogen must:

- adhere to host cell

- be able to reproduce and multiply
- spread to tissue and other tissues of host
- resist/not stimulate host’s defence mechanisms

the adaptations that allow them to do this are part of their virulence factors.

More detail:

ADAPTATIONS OF PATHOGENS

1- Enter host (need adaptations to stick and enter host and protect itself from dehydration otside
host)
2- Multiply in host tissues (reproduce by using host resources and energy and spread to other
tissues – so have way to move- mobility)
3- Avoid host defence mechanisms (protection from immune system or harm immune system)
4- Damage the host (by using resources, harming cells directly, secreting toxins, etc.)

FACILITATING ADHESION TO AND INVASION OF HOST

PRIONS-

Host B lymphocytes secrete factors that allow prions to invade follicular dendrite cells in lymphoid
tissue

Can latch on to DNA to change shape of protein

Live in tissue undetected – so evade immune response

Use dendrites to spread through lymphoid tissue to CNS

VIRUSES

Wants to be macrophage (eaten by cell) so it can enter host cell

Can also inject viral DNA from outside host cell to invade. Use cell to replicate.

Tough capsids to protect against chemicals (acids and bases) and dehydration

E.g., Hepatitis A is a virus that infects the liver. The capsid protects viral DNA against stomach acid
and alkalinity of small intestine.

Invasion: endocytosis and endosome formed from host cell membrane for enveloped viruses (e.g.,
influenza) allows virus to enter. Unenveloped viruses (e.g., polio) form a pore in the cell and deliver
viral genome through it.

BACTERIA

Biofilm allows adhesion.

Many bacteria use fimbria (finger-like projections on cell membrane) to adhere to host cells.
Many bacteria also produce chemicals and enzymes to disrupt or evade defences.

Resist phagocytosis by host cells.

FUNGI

Cell wall and capsule molecules help adhesion to host cell

Hydrolytic enzymes damage host cells so fungus can absorb their nutrients.

Dimorphism from saprophytic mycelium to parasitic yeast cells when exposed to heat.

PROTOZOA

Microtubular protrusion into host cell

Forms vacuolar membrane for protection against lysosomes. Some can deactivate lysosome
enzymes.

MACROPARASITES

Secrete proteins to suppress defence mechanisms

Specialised mouths used to pierce skin

FACILITATING TRANSMISSION BETWEEN HOSTS

AIRBORNE e.g., influenza virus

Resists drying out

Can stay in air for long time

Aero-tolerant

Causes sneezing and coughing, which can transmit pathogen to next host

WATERBORNE e.g., Vibrio

Can colonise in water so reservoir is present

Have outer-surface structures that allow motility

Marine-borne organisms are halotolerant

Can’t be destroyed by boiling/treating water

VECTORBORNE e.g., malaria

Can survive in a range of different types of vectors

Produce surface proteins for attachment to vector tissues

FAECO-ORAL e.g., E. coli

Can survive in a range of conditions (acidity of stomach, low oxygen of colon)

Vomiting and diarrhoea induced help transmission

Antimicrobial resistance

SOIL-BORNE e.g., nematodes

Can survive in a range of conditions

Grow mainly in rhizosphere of plants

Form endospores to resist dessication

VENEREAL and VERTICAL (MOTHER TO CHILD) e.g., chlamydia and chickenpox virus respectively

Transmission across placenta (from mother to foetus tissues)

Can invade uterus

BLOOD-BORNE e.g., sickle cell anaemia

Take advantage of red blood cell specialised features to facilitate growth

PAST HSC QUESTION

Compare the adaptations of TWO different pathogens that facilitate their entry into and transmission
between hosts.

bacteria virus

differences Uses fimbria to adhere to host
cells.
other projections on cell
membrane (like pili, cilia) to
move from one host to next as it
is mobile so can be waterborne.
Viral dna injected into cell to begin viral
replication in cell.
Uses capsid to protect itself against
chemicals, acidity of stomach and
dehydration, hence can survive in a range
of conditions, allowing it to be waterborne
to transmit.

similarities Both use features of the membrane or capsid coating them to facilitate
invasion and transmission
Both can be waterborne