Outer membrane of Gram(-):
1st-line lab test in bacterial identification:
GRAM STAIN.
Gram stain - Bacteria with THICK PEPTIDOGLYCAN LAYER retain …?
CRYSTAL VIOLET DYE (Gram(+)).
Gram stain - Bacteria with THIN PEPTIDOGLYCAN layer turn …?
RED or PINK (Gram(-)) WITH COUNTERSTAIN.
Chlamydia lack classic peptidoglycan because of …?
DECREASED MURAMIC ACID.
Ziehl-Neelsen stain (carbol fuchsin) - Alternative:
AURAMINE-RHODAMINE STAIN for screening = INEXPENSIVE, more sensitive, but LESS specific.
Fluorescent antibody stain - Used to identify …?
Many BACTERIA + VIRUSES.
Example of fluorescent antibody stain:
FTA-ABS FOR CONFIRMING SYPHILIS.
Properties of growth media:
Selective media:
Favors the growth of particular organism while preventing growth of other organisms.
(eg Thayer-Martin).
Indicator (differential) media:
Yields a color change in response to be the metabolism of certain organisms.
–> MacConkey agar contains a pH indicator; a lactose fermenter like E.coli will convert lactose to acidic metabolites –> Color change.
Special culture requirements - E.coli:
Eosin-Methylene blue (EMB) agar –> Colonies with green metallic sheen.
What serves as an antigen in vaccines?
Capsular polysaccharides + Protein conjugate.
Asplenics have …?
DECREASED OPSONIZING ABILITY and thus INCREASED RISK for severe infections.
–> Give S.pneumo + H.flu + N.meningitidis vaccines.
Encapsulated bacteria vaccines:
Some vaccines containing polysaccharide capsule antigens are conjugated to a carrier protein, enhancing immunogenicity by promoting T-cell activation and subsequent class switching.
Encapsulated bacteria vaccines - A polysaccharide antigen alone cannot …?
BE PRESENTED TO T CELLS.
Pneumococcal vaccine:
2. PPSV = Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine with no conjugated protein, ie, Pneumovax.
H.flu type B - Vaccine:
CONJUGATE VACCINE.
Meningococcal vaccine:
CONJUGATE VACCINE.
Catalase-positive organisms - Catalase degrades …?
H2O2 into H2O + Bubbles of O2 –> Before it can be converted to microbicidal products by the enzyme MPO.
In vivo biofilm-producing bacteria:
Biofim of S.epi:
2. Prosthetic device infections.
Biofilm of Viridans strep (S.mutans, S.sanguinis):
2. Infective endocarditis.
Biofilm of P.aeruginosa:
2. Contact lens-associated keratitis.