Common Pathogens

Microbiology
(Spring-2010)
Assignment

Author:
Kulkarni Manoj Mohan
[email protected]
School of Life Sciences
Skövde University
BOX 408
SE-541 28 Skövde
Sweden
Introduction:
In daily life we come across many micro-organisms. Soil, air, water and body of animals can be
habitat of microbes. Human body contains large no. of bacteria as normal flora. Some of them
are harmful while others are not. Microorganisms which produce disease are called pathogens.
Diseases producing ability of microorganisms is called as virulence and depends on
physicochemical properties of bacteria. With help of the virulence factor microbes adheres,
attach, and invades in body causing disease. This includes toxins, capsule, fimbriae etc (Medigan
et al, 1997). In this article we are going to review the common pathogens, their virulence factors
and diseases.
Staphylococcus spp.:
These are facultative anaerobic gram positive bacteria. They can grow under conditions of high
osmotic pressure and low moisture; also they can grow in food with high osmotic pressure. The
bacteria can be divided into two categories according to capability of producing coagulative
enzyme. This coagulase enzyme is responsible for pathogenicity of the bacteria. Most important
species is Staphylococcus aureus. This is coagulase positive bacteria. It also produces leukocidin
which destroys leukocytes and exofoliative toxin responsible for causing scalded skin syndrome.
Staphylococcus produces toxin responsible for toxic shock syndrome, it is severe infection
characterized by high fever and vomiting. It can cause minor skin disease such as pimples as
well as major diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and osteomyelities. It can spread through
contact with infection, from skin to skin contact. (Tortora et al, 2001; Prescott, 2002)

Streptococcus pneumonia & Streptococcus pyogens:

Streptococci are gram-positive nonmotile, facultative anaerobic cocci that cause localized to
widespread pyogenic infections in animals and people. Streptococcus pyogens and Streptococcus
pneumonia are the two major disease causing species. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium
that frequently colonizes the nasopharynx of healthy persons, particularly young children,
without causing illness. They cause infections such as meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia.
Pneumococcal disease occurs worldwide, and the reported incidence varies by geographic
region. Capsule is most important virulence factor of S. pneumonia. Other factors are
pneumolysin, autolysin. Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive, nonmotile, nonspore
forming coccus that occurs in chains or in pairs of cells. It is one of the most common pathogen
of human. It causes pharyngitis, scarlet fever, cellulitis, myositis, toxic shock syndrome and
rheumatic fever. Virulence factors include M protein, lipoteichoic acid; invasions such as
streptokinase, streptodornase, streptolysin and hyaluronidase; exotoxins such as pyrogenic toxin
and hyaluronic acid capsule. (Tortora et al, 2001; Prescott, 2002)

Enterococcus spp.:

These are facultative anaerobic, gram positive cocci that usually form pairs and short chains. The
intestinal tract in human and animal is common reservoir for these bacteria. Most common
species are E. faecalis & E. faecium. These species causes mainly nosocomial infections, urinary
tract infections. These diseases commonly occur all over the world. Virulence factor includes a
fimbriae-like protein that promotes attachment to epithelial cells, various cell wall adhesions,
secretions such as cytolysin, pheromone and gelatinase also contribute for its pathogenesis. So
virulence of bacteria is due to adherence to host tissues, invasion and abscess formation, factors
potentially relevant to modulation of host inflammatory responses, and potentially toxic
secreted products. (Medigan et al, 1997; Prescott, 2002)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa:

These are aerobic gram negative rods. They have polar flagella and show motility. They can be
found in soil, coastal marine habitats, and on plant and animal tissues. They are opportunistic
pathogens. It causes septic shock, urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections,
dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, bone and joint infections, gastrointestinal infections
and a variety of systemic infections, particularly in patients who are immune-suppressed.
Exotoxin A and exoenzyme S are the virulence factors. (Tortora et al, 2001)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis:

It is a fairly large non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium distantly related to the Actinomycetes. Many
non pathogenic mycobacteria are components of the normal flora of humans, found most often in
dry and oily locales. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an obligate aerobe and always found in
upper lobes of the lungs. The bacterium is a facultative intracellular parasite, usually of
macrophages, and has a slow generation time, 15-20 hours, a physiological characteristic that
may contribute to its virulence. Mycolic Acids are thought to be a significant determinant of
virulence in these bacteria. It is a causative agent for Tuberculosis. (Tortora et al, 2001; Medigan
et al, 1997)

Clostridium spp.:

The genus Clostridium consists of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria in the Phylum Firmicutes.
All species form endospores and have a strictly fermentative type of metabolism. Most clostridia
will not grow under aerobic conditions and vegetative cells are killed by exposure to O2, but their
spores are able to survive. Pathogenic species for humans includes Clostridium perfringens,
C.difficile, C. tetani; Clostridium perfringens produces invasins and exotoxins that cause gas
gangrene. It also produces food poisoning. C. tetani causes Tetanus, C. botulism causes botulism
and Clostridium difficile causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea. (Tortora et al, 2001; Medigan et
al, 1997)

Bacillus cereus:

These are facultative anaerobic, gram-positive, rod-shaped, beta hemolytic bacterium. These
bacteria can form endospores. It is common food poisoning agent. It can cause severe nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea. This pathogen spread throughout the world. Food poisoning is a result of
improper cooking which results in growth of bacteria. As bacteria grow various enterotoxins
accumulate. These enterotoxins are heat-stable emetic toxin, ETE, enterotoxin
Nheand/or hemolytic enterotoxin HBL and are the main virulence factors of disease. Primary
habitat of these bacteria is soil and food. (Medigan et al, 1997)

Vibrio Cholerae:
These are facultative anaerobic gram negative rod with single polar flagellum. These are found
in aquatic habitats. This is causative agent of Cholera. Disease is characterized by profuse and
watery diarrhea. Virulence factor is enterotoxin called as “cholera toxin” responsible for
inducing Diarrhea. Today cholera is endemic in Asia particularly in India, occasionally in
Western countries. Normal reservoirs of this bacterium are salty waters, contaminated fresh
water. Most victims of cholera are children. (Tortora et al, 2001; Medigan et al, 1997)
Salmonella spp.:

It is gram negative, rod shaped, non-spore forming, and motile bacteria. The reservoirs of the
bacteria are animals, especially poultry and swine. Transmission of this organism is primarily
through the contaminated air and food. S. typhi and the paratyphoid bacteria are normally caused
septicemia and produce typhoid or typhoid-like fever in humans. Related symptoms are nausea,
vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, and headache. Virulence factors of salmonellae are
complex and encoded both on the organism's chromosome and on large plasmids. (Medigan et
al, 1997; Prescott, 2002)

Escherichia coli:

E. coli are facultative anaerobic Gram-negative non-sporing rods. Most strains are motile
however there are some non motile strains. A number of strains of E. coli are pathogenic for
humans. The sub types are separated by serotyping and the presence of specific virulence factors.
Virulent strains of E. coli can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections,
and neonatal meningitis. In rare cases, virulent strains are also responsible for haemolytic uremic
syndrome (HUS), peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia and Gram-negative pneumonia.

Entero hemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): These strains can cause bloody diarrhea and shigotoxin is
responsible for pathogenicity.

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC): These cause traveler’s diarrhea by producing LT and ST

Neissseria Gonorrhoea:
These are aerobic gram negative cocci. Gonorrhoea is most common disease caused by Neisseria
gonorrhea. It also causes conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, proctitis or urethritis & orchitis. Fimbriae
helps bacterial attach to mucous membrane of epithelial wall and contribute to pathogenicity. It
can cause infection to eyes, rectum, urethra, opening of cervix and external genital of pre-
pubertal females. Human is the only reservoir of Neisseria gonorrhea. Women’s are more prone
to infection. Transmission can occur from mother to infant, also by hand contact with infected
site to eyes of adults. It can spread through sexual contact. (Tortora et al, 2001; Medigan et al,
1997)

Chlamydia trachomatis:

It is an obligate intracellular human pathogen, is one of three bacterial species in

Conclusion:

In conclusion we can say that pathogens are present in environment. In favorable conditions they
colonized in body an d cause disease by using virulence factor. Contaminated air, food water as
well as poor hygiene responsible for activity of pathogens
References:

Tortora G. J., Funke B. R., Case C.L., 2001. Microbiology an Introduction. 7th Edition., pp.68-
725.

Medigan M. T., Martinko J. M., Parker J., 1997. Brock Biology of Microorganisms.8th edition.,
pp. 16-974.

Prescott L. M., 2002. Microbiology., 5th Edition., pp. 42-936.