Question

list 5 virulence factors and for each virulence factor, describe how it aids the organism in causing infection.

Answer 1

QUESTION-1

ANSWER

VIRULENCE FACTOR

Virulence factors are agents or molecules that help the pathogens to become effective against the host.

Pathogens can be bacteria, fungi, virus, protozoa, etc.

They help the pathogen to easily get attached and form a colony after invading the host cell.

Virulence factors play major role host-pathogen interaction.

5 VIRULENCE FACTORS

• Transmissibility
• Adhesion
• Evade host immune defense
• Secretion of toxins
• Spreading factors and enzyme

1. Transmissibility

Higher is the capability of transmissibility high the rate of colonization of the niche.

The rate of interaction also increases.

The more is the pathogen colonization more is the chances of disease to become severe.

2. Adhesion

Adhesion is the attachment of pathogens to the host cell.

Pathogens produce various adhesins which also includes surface anchor proteins to get attached to the host.

3. Evade host immune defense

Pathogens like bacteria produce capsules around its body to protect it from destruction.

Capsule helps the bacteria to evade the immune line of the host.

Some pathogens produce proteases.

Proteases breakdown immunoglobulin molecules and evade the immune system of the host.

Viruses process vir gene which increase their latency inside the host.

4. Secrete toxins

Pathogens secrete two types of toxins

• Endotoxin
• Exotoxins

Endotoxins are the chemicals released by the gram-negative bacteria.

Endotoxins are an integral part of the cell wall of these bacteria and they are made up of lipopolysaccharides.

Exotoxins are produced by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cels.

The toxin is made up of proteins and highly toxic in nature.

They are diffusable and are highly antigenic.

5. Spreading factors and enzyme

Pathogens produce many destructive enzymes which help in causing damage in the host body and increases the rate of colonization.

The enzymes breakdown the connective tissues of the host.

The enzyme secreted by the bacterial cell to destruct connective is hyaluronidase.

Protease group destructs immunoglobulins.

DNases destruct nucleotides.

GOOD LUCK.