3.

The Search for microbes as causes of disease

Contribution of Louis Pasteur + Robert Koch Louis Pasteur: disproved theory of spontaneous generation + developed germ theory of disease
-> Through his swan necked flask experiment - hypothesized spores carried in air, where they were inactive, but dev -> active microbes that could cause disease when nutrients available - spoiled broth contamined by dust, microorganisms through open air -> microbes contamined and caused decay must be carried in air + not spontaneously generated - created science of microbiology -studied fermentation of beet juice -> found that process due to presence of living microbes called yeast - microorganism = cause of wine, beer, vinegar spoilage -> solution dev pasteurisation: heat long enough to kill contaminating bacteria present after fermentation Pure Cultures - first person to separate diff bacteria + grow them as pure cultures - selected bacteria accord to shape -> solid medium (gelatin, agar) in flat petri dish Microbes travel through air via spores - investigated cause of anthrax in animals -> animals contracted disease despite the lack of contact with diseased animal -> found cause = rod shaped bacterium bacillius anthracis spores of diseased carcasses buried in fields that were grazed by healthy animals = proved this with swan-necked flask experiment - Germ theory of Disease rotting of foodstuffs = caused by activity of living organisms opposed the spontaneous generation theory Swan necked flask Experiment - broth into 2 flasks with S-shaped necks - S-shaped neck - ensured contents of flask were continuous with outside air - prevent any solid particles (dust, microbe, bacteria) from entering broth - broth boiled to sterilize/kill microbes - neck of one flask was broken off = became contaminated with bacteria (decay) Broth in intact flask also in contact with outside air but didnt become contaminated w bacteria (decay) = proved that organism that contaminated broth + caused decay must be carried in the air + not spontaneously generated

Established the Principle of Immunity Developed Vaccination - studied foul cholera - developed way to attenuate (weaken) bacteria, so when they are in host -> cause body to prepare to recognize real infection (caused the development of specified antibodies before disease is contracted) - Developed vaccine for anthrax + public field test = successful; all vaccined survived, non-vaccined died = provided effective way to prevent infectious disease

Robert Koch
Developed a criteria designed to help identify the causative microbe of a specific disease (determining whether or not a particular microbe is the cause of a disease) List Kochs postulates Criteria used to identify the specific micro-organism responsible for an infectious disease (determines if a particular microorganism is responsible for causing a disease) (demonstrates that a certain infectious disease is caused by a certain microorganism) 1. The microorganism must be present in every host with the disease 2. The microorganism must be isolated from the host + cultured 3. A potential host, when inoculated with the microorganism, must develop the same symptoms as the original host 4. The microorganism must be able to be isolated from the second host and identified as the same species originally cultured Allowed pathogen responsible for an infectious disease to be identified he could then use identified pathogen -> cultured + attenuated -> used as vaccine to prevent disease

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATHOGENS

PRION Proteinaceous infectious particle long fibres toxic to nerve cells -> characteristic holes in the infected brain No genetic material Infects/converts normal prions in nerve cells of brain, by altering its structure Can be transmitted both through contact + genetically (result of mutation to gene that codes for normal proteins) CreutzfeldtJakob disease (CJD) VIRUS Non-cellular pathogens BACTERIA Single-celled prokaryotic organism PROTOZOAN Single-celled eukaryotic organism FUNGI Unicellular/multicellular Eukaryotic organism MACROPARASITE Multi-cellular eukaryotic organism Parasite visible to naked eye

DNA + protein coat Replicates by entering and taking control of host cells reproductive mechanism (copies of itself)

DNA single large chromosome Asexual reproduction via binary fission

nucleus

DNA

DNA

Asexual reproduction via binary fission

Sexual/Asexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction

Can cause disease directly or act as vectors in transmission of disease

Influenza

Tetanus

Malaria

Tinea (athletes foot)

Taeniasis (tapeworm disease)

IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN DECAY

TRACE THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSE + PREVENTION OF MALARIA
4 BC: Greeks thought that the symptoms of malaria were caused by either breathing in marsh vapours or bites of insects that live in marshes 1880: Charles Laveran observed micro-organisms in fresh blood from malarial patients and suggested that malaria was caused by this micro-organisms 1886: Camillo Golgi observed asexual reproduction of microbe in blood of patients 1894: Patrick Manson proposed that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes 1898: Grassi discovered that malaria was transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. 1897-1899: Ronald Ross established that the protozoan Plasmodium was the cause of malaria, winning the Nobel Prize. Early 20 : Treatments of malaria were developed, including anti-malarial drugs such as quinine. Efforts to stop the spread of malaria include using DDT to kill the disease vector the mosquito. Today: Resistance to quinine and other drugs by the Plasmodium, as well as DDT resistance by the mosquitoes has become a problem. -> Combination drug therapy: Artemisinin - only consistent successful treatment -> Normal measures to prevent mosquito bites (nets + repellent): most effective prevention Development of a malarial vaccine is the main direction research is going.
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IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE

antibiotics: selectively destroy/inactivate bacterial cells (w/o destroying body) Eg. Penicillin destroys cell walls Once fatal infectious diseases > curable

DISCUSS PROBLEMS RELATING TO ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Discovery -> widespread use Overuse -> natural selection: mutation -> strains of antibiotic resistance (dev + spread) Develop new modifications of antibiotics BUT bacteria multiply + mutate too quickly = continual struggle Causes = increase development of resistant bacteria: - overuse for minor illnesses - use in animal feeding stocks to prevent disease in healthy animals -> humans via meat + dairy cons - also reduce the number of beneficial bacteria. - can prevent natural immunity from occurring and/or cause pathogens, which were kept in check naturally

INFECTIOUS DISEASE: MALARIA

Cause: 4 species of the protozoan, Plasmodium Transmission: Female Anopheles mosquito hosts that act as vectors transmitting the disease to humans during the blood-sucking process Host response: The pathogen travels to liver cells - escapes detection The parasite produces a different set of antigens at each stage of the life-cycle -> host produces antibodies to fight pathogens BUT as the antigens continually change, immune system ineffective Major symptoms: pathogen -> liver cells multiply to produce merozoite cells -> red blood cells multiply asexually burst out of blood cells every 48-72 hrs releasing toxins released toxins -> sweating, lethargy, shivering, fear, headaches, nausea destruction of many red blood cells -> anaemia Treatment: Natural resistance can develop, but only very slowly Anti-malarial drugs -> quinine effective against parasites in red blood cells -> primaquine phosphate works in both blood + liver cells destroy merozoites Prevention: Protective clothing. Mosquito nets, insect repellent, preventative use of drugs Control: Strategies to keep incidence to a minimum in population -> destroy malaria parasite - drugs -> destroy vector + prevent breeding - insecticides - draining stagnant water - intro of fish to eat parasites larvae -> protect host/population - develop vaccine produce immunity against parasite