Factors necessary for Infection –

Pathogenicity/Virulence

BIO 3213
FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA
 OUTLINE
• HIV infection

• Definition of terms

• Pathogenicity vs. Virulence

 HIV INFECTION
• P24: Viral protein used for
diagnosing early infections
• CD4 receptor:
• CD4 Lymphocyte:
• Reverse transcriptase:
• Protease:
• Gp120: binds to CD4 molecules on
host cell (attachment)
PATHOGENICITY VS. VIRULENCE
Pathogenicity
• The ability of a mo’ to gain entry into host tissue & cause a
physiological or anatomical change in health resulting in disease

Virulence
• A term used to express the degree or level of pathogenicity
• High , moderate
• Avirulent – unable to cause disease
PATHOGENICITY VS. VIRULENCE
Opportunistic pathogen
• This is a pathogen that only usually cause diseases in an
individual whose immune resistance is low e.g. because of
diseases or drugs

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa - causes a wide variety of nosocomial

infections
• Candida albicans
• Candida auris
 PATHOGENICITY
• To cause disease, most pathogens must gain access to the host
(use a portal of entry); adhere to host tissues, penetrate or
evade host defenses and; damage the host tissues

Pathogenicity determinants
• Attachment/adherence
• Escape from host defenses
• Enzyme and toxin production
 PATHOGENICITY DETERMINANTS-
Attachment/Adherence
• There must be surface molecules on the pathogen that recognise & bind
specifically to receptors on host cells
• Envelope of HIV-
• Glycocalyx of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Extended wear of soft contact lenses is associated with an increased
risk of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of the cornea →→→
Keratitis
• Fimbriae of E.coli & Proteus sp.
• Fimbriae of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
PATHOGENICITY DETERMINANTS –
Escape from Host
• Capsule production
• Polysaccharide material
• S. pneumoniae
• N. gonorrhoeae
• PHAGOCYTOSIS
 PATHOGENICITY DETERMINANTS – Enzymes and
Toxins

ENZYMES
• Leucocidins – destroys WBCs (leucocytes)
• Especially streptococci & staphylococci
•  Haemolysins/hemolysins – lysis of RBCs (erythrocytes)
• Kinases - Bacterial enzymes that breakdown fibrin
• Dissolve clots that the body forms in order to isolate the infection
• Fibrolysin = streptokinase; also has commercial health use
• Staphylokinase
 PATHOGENICITY DETERMINANTS
– Enzymes and Toxins
TOXINS
• Intoxication – diseases that result from the entrance of a specific
toxin into the body of a host
• Toxin – specific substance, often a metabolic product of the
organism, that damages the host
• Toxemia – condition caused by toxins that have entered the blood

• Two main categories – EXOTOXINS & ENDOTOXINS

 PATHOGENICITY DETERMINANTS
– Enzymes and Toxins
EXOTOXINS
• Mainly produced by GP bacteria
• C. tetani – Tetanus
neurotoxin
• S. aureus – Staphylococcal
enterotoxin
ENDOTOXINS
• Only found in GN bacteria
• Causes fever; chills; shock
The end