Resistance, Infections, and Defenses of Streptococcus pyogenes
Streptococcus pyogenes was the bacteria that used to be the cause of numerous cases of human sicknesses and deaths. As our technology evolved and advanced, our perspective and understanding of this bacteria grew to a point that it is no longer a huge threat. The once blurry details became so clear that it came to the point of which we can identify, locate, and treat the bug accurately. After those many years of dedication and research, we finally saw exactly how the bacteria came about, entered our bodies, infected our cells, and tricked our immune system to attack itself. We also found out specific details on how the bacteria reproduce, survive in the wild, spread from host to host, and what drugs it was and is susceptible to.
Streptococcus pyogenes (Todar, 2002)
Streptococcus pyogenes is gram positive, facultative anaerobic, nonmotile coccus, typically 0.6-1.0 μm in diameter. The bacteria reproduce in chains and pairs. (Todar, 2002). It is also nonsporeforming and catalase-negative. Some older cultures may lose the gram positive identifications and occasionally there are “obligate anaerobes.” (Patterson, 2001). There are three different groups of streptococci: Beta-hemolysis which would result with clear surroundings on blood agar, Alpha-hemolysis which would result with red blood cells changing to a green appearance due to the reduction of hemoglobin in the red blood cells, and gamma-hemolytic which is not hemolytic. (Todar, 2002). To identify the bacteria, checking for hemolysis is not the best source of identification for streptococci because the age, species, and many other elements could affect the results. (Todar, 2002).
Resistance, Infections, and… 2
St...
... middle of paper ...
...once hundred-percent fatal bacteria. There is no vaccine, but there is a cure. Sooner or later, our diagnostics and understanding of this great killer will come to the point that Streptococcus pyogenes is no longer a threat to our world.
Bibliography
Duckworth, D. Ph.D., Richard Crandall Ph.D. and Richard Rathe M.D. (1999, May). Streptococcal Infection*. University of Florida. July 29, 2005: http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year2/mmid/bms5300/bugs/strpyoge.html#AA2
Patterson, M. (2001, October). Streptococcus. The University of Texas Medical Branch. July 29, 2005: http://gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/ch013.htm
Todar, K. (2002, May). Streptococcus pyogenes. University of Wisconsin. July 29, 2005: http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact330/lecturespyo
Fischetti Ph.D., V. (1995, June). The Streptococcus. The Rockfeller University. July 28, 2005: http://www.rockefeller.edu/vaf/strep.htm
The isolate possesses some enzymes required for hydrolytic reactions. Hydrolytic enzymes found to be secreted from the bacterium, are -amylase, casein, and PYRase. In the starch hydrolysis and casein tests, there was a zone of clearing around the bacterium, which was indicative of the secreted enzymes necessary to break down starch and casein. In the PYR test, the presence of PYRase was detected by a color change to red on the PYR disc after the addition of the PYR reagent (p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde). Hydrolytic enzymes for which the EI tested negative were urease, gelatinase, and DNAse. In the Urea Hydrolysis test, it was observed that the urea broth did not have a color change, indicating that there was no urease secreted to break down urea in the broth. Similarly, there was no gelatinase present to break down gelatin in the Gelatin Hydrolysis test, so the nutrient gelatin remained solid. It was concluded that the EI does not possess DNase because there was no clearing zone around the bacteria, indicating that DNA had not been
After 48 hours of incubation the agar plates were viewed. Individual colonies were tested for successful isolation by gram staining and then viewing the stained bacteria under a microscope. Isolation was successful. One colony of each unknown bacteria was transferred to an agar slant for growth. The agar slants were stored at room temperature over the weekend so that they would not grow too much.
The Gram positive bacteria has been nicknamed Posi. The Gram positive species’ morphology includes having an opaque opacity with a smooth margin. The moisture content of the Gram positive species is shiny and the pigmentation is gold. The Gram positive species grows at an optimal temperature of 37°C. The shape of the Gram positive species is a cocci, with an arrangement of grapelike clusters. The Gram positive species’ size ranges from .5-1.5 µm. Oxygen requirement of the Gram positive species is facultative, and has complete lysis of red blood cells. All results are summarized in Table
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
It is not unusual for some healthy women to harbor Group B streptococcus bacteria in their rectum and vagina. These microorganisms do not usually cause disease when few in number, but when they grow in number and colonize these areas, bacterial infection can become severe.
Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A streptococcus (GAS), is a β-hemolytic, Gram-positive bacterium that most commonly causes respiratory disease, including pharyngitis or tonsillitis, as well as skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis. The organism is transmitted via respiratory droplets or by contact with fomites, and commonly infects young children. In addition to the common clinical presentations associated with S. pyogenes, some individuals develop the postinfectious sequelae of rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Due to the severity of these medical consequences, prophylactic antibiotic use is often recommended for any patients with otherwise mild S. pyogenes infections (21).
mutans was problematic due to its difference with Bergey’s Manual result for the catalase test. However, after comparing it with a peers results, it seems very possible that the strain we are working with varies from the strain used in Bergey’s. Bacteria possess the ability to develop varying phenotypes within the same species due to frequent mutation and horizontal gene transfer. Therefore, it is possible that the results obtained in our lab may vary from those provided in Bergey’s Manual. Arriving to the conclusion that the Gram negative bacteria was Klebsiella pneumoniae was much more direct. Using Bergey’s Flowchart for identification, the bacteria shared the test results and had a similar shape and
This pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a gram-positive coccus that is long shaped and usually seen in groups of pairs (Todar, 2008-2012). This pathogen ranges from o.5-1.25 micrometers, which is pretty small in size (Todar, 2008-2012). It “lacks catalase and ferments glucose into lactic acid” (Todar, 2008-2012). To grow this bacterium in the lab the best way to do it would be to grow it on a blood agar at 37 degrees Celsius and produces a green zone arou...
With the earliest recordings coming from the Fifth Century B.C., streptococcus pyogenes, and more frequently, its symptoms have been prevalent among doctors and historians for hundreds of years. The first mentioning of streptococcus pyogenes is to be credited to Hippocrates, in which he describes the relative symptoms of the flesh-eating bacteria in its early stages. Then depicted by Billroth in 1874, patients carrying erysipelas were determined to have this certain bacterial infection. In 1883, the chain-forming bacteria were isolated by Fehleisen; and in the following year, Rosenbach applied the S. pyogenes name. Further advances in hemolytic and non-hemolytic studies were made by Lancefield in the 1930’s, in which the alpha, beta, and gamma subgroups of the hemolytic structures – detailed and defined by Schottmueller and Brown - were divided into serotypes.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive and fast-growing bacteria which inhabit upper respiratory tract in humans. Moreover, it is an aerotolerant anaerobe and usually causes respiratory diseases including pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, peritonitis, paranasal sinusitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis (Todar, 2003). According to Tettelin et al., more than 3 million of children die from meningitis or pneumonia worldwide (2001). S.pneumoniae has an enzyme known as autolysin that is responsible for disintegration and disruption of epithelial cells. Furthermore, S.pneumoniae has many essential virulence factors like capsule which is made up of polysaccharides that avoids complement C3b opsonization of cells by phagocytes. Many vaccines contain different capsular antigens which were isolated from various strains (Todar, 2003). There are plenty of S.pneumoniae strains that developed resistance to most popular antibiotics like macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and penicillin since 1990 (Tettelin et al., 2001). Antibiotic resistance was developed by the gene mutation and selection processes that, as a consequence, lead to the formation of penicillin-binding proteins, etc. (Todar, 2003).
our everyday lives bacteria is constantly surrounding us, some of the bacterium that we encounter are beneficial to us but then there are the ones that are severely detrimental to our health. The way that they effect a persons body can differ from person to person. Many of the “microscopic foes” are very resilient and have a very fast reproduction rate. Not only do they reproduce quickly they sometimes seem to outsmart our immune system and not allow our bodies to fight the infection making it almost impossible to stop them. One thing that a lot if people rely on is the assistance of prescription drugs to get them better but even the drugs are not being effective and we can’t stop the pathogens from invading our personal places such as work, home, school, or anywhere. Even though modern medicine is advancing the pathogens could still get the get the best of us. The scary thing is we never know when the next pandemic or epidemic is going to arise. All it needs is some ordinary microbe to swap genes with a deadly germ to produce a “super pathogen” and it could happen to anyone, anywhere, as it did to Jeannie Brown who is from “our neck of the woods”.
Streptococcus pyogenes is a very common bacteria found in humans. It is very transmissible and can be caught through the air via coughing or sneezing. This form of Strep. illness is referred to as Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as Strep. throat, which can complicate into Scarlet Fever. It is also possible to be infected through abrasions of the skin, which can result in cellulitis, impetigo, or even necrotizing fasciitis. Aside from human to human contact, these bacteria can also be found in unpasteurized milk. There is no vaccine for Streptococcal infections, though antibiotics such as penicillin still work very well against them.
In the documentary, Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria, reporter David Hoffman investigates this new untreatable infection along two individuals and a bacterial virus within a hospital. The first individual Hoffman investigates is Addie Rerecich of Arizona, she was treated for a staph infection with antibiotics, but other complications arise. Addie had a lung transplant, she was given several different antibiotics, but her body became pan-bacteria, non-resistance to the bacteria. Addie’s life was on the edge, she had to be on life support, and finally she received new lungs. The transplant helped Addie but it would take years before could go back to normal before the infection. The second individual is David Ricci; he had his leg amputated in India after a train accident. The antibiotic treatment he received became toxic to his body increasing problems. While in India, he underwent surgery almost every day because of infections he was developing. Back in Seattle, doctors found the NDM-1 resistance gene in his body; NDM-1 gene is resistance to almost all antib...
leaving a ring around the bacteria, due to an enzyme streptolysin. During the catalase test, the bacteria
What if there were no treatment for strep throat? Or pneumonia? Or sinus infections? It is hard to imagine life without medicine for these illnesses. But what if the antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections such as strep throat and pneumonia stopped working? What if the bacteria were stronger than the antibiotics? The threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is an increasing concern for healthcare providers, and it is important to reduce the misuse and overuse of antibiotics to maintain control of bacterial diseases.