Host parasite relationship and

pathogenecity

8/11/2021 1
Introduction
• Host parasite r/ship:
- Is Interaction between host and pathogen
 Competition for superiority
 Host is successful healthy (pathogen removed
or exist benignly)
 Pathogen get upper hand  Disease/Death
 Disease occurs due to imbalance between host
resistance and virulence factors of pathogen.

8/11/2021 2
 Symbiotic Relationships between Microbes and
their Hosts

• Symbiosis means “to live together”

• We have symbiotic relationships with
countless microorganisms
• Types of symbiosis
– Mutualism
– Commensalism
– Parasitism

8/11/2021 3
© 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
Relationships
1. Mutualism (+/+): mutually beneficial
relationship between two species.
2. Commensalism (+/0): relationship
between two species in which one is benefited
and the other is not affected, neither negatively
nor positively.
3. Parasitism (+/-): relationship between two
species in which one benefits (parasite) from the
other (host); usually involves detriment to the
host.
8/11/2021 4
Table 14.1 The Three Types of Symbiotic Relationships

8/11/2021 5
Virulence Factors:-
Virulence factors are structures or substances secreted by
pathogens that may help:
1. Attach on the host cell
2. Cause different damage on the host cell
3. Obtain nutrient from the host cell
4. Hide from the action of host cell defense mechanism
Pathogenicity: The ability of an organism to cause disease
•Infection:-Multiplication of an infectious agent within the body.
• Contamination: - Presence of organisms in or on our body.
• Disease:- pathogens cause certain damage and patient show
sign and symptoms
8/11/2021 6
Main virulent factors of pathogens
1. Pili (fimbriae) organ of attachment
2. Growth metabolic byproducts (acid and gas)
3. Tissue-degrading enzymes ( phospholipase C, Hyaluronidase, etc., )
4. Toxins ( Exotoxins , Endotoxin)
5. Antiphagocytic factors ( Capsule prevent phagocytosis)
6. Intracellular survival (protect from antbodies)
7. Antigenic heterogeneity
Antigenic variation (prevent from bieng killed by drugs, antibodies)
8. Iron acquisition structures ( take iron from the host cell)
9. Resistance to antibiotics ( will not be killed by different drugs)

8/11/2021 7
 Toxins

• Endotoxins • Exotoxins
– Produced by Gram- – Produced mostly by
– Part of the LPS Gram+
– Nonspecific – Secreted
– Low toxicity (fever, – Specific targets
aches) – High toxicity
– Released when
bacteria die or divide

8/11/2021 8
Steps in pathogenesis

• Get enter into the body

• Replicate( spread) within the body

• Cause certain damage on the host

• Get out a new host / spread within the community

8/11/2021 9
 Bacteria cause disease by:-
- destruction of tissues,
- loss of organ function
- Release toxins
- Stimulating cytokines (host inflammatory
response)
 Disease occurrence depends on:-
- Bacterial strain, inoculums size, host factor
8/11/2021 10
 NORMAL FLORA
• Normal flora are microorganisms that are
frequently found in a particular site in normal
healthy individual.
• Some are found in association with humans /
animals only.
• The Majority are bacteria.
• Subject to constant changes.
• Altered by antimicrobial agents.

8/11/2021 11
 Types of Normal Flora

• Residents : present for invariable period .

• Transients : establish itself briefly , excluded by
host defence or competition from residents.

8/11/2021 12
 Origin of Normal Flora
• Newborn sterile in utero.
• After birth ,exposed to flora of mother’s genital
tract, skin, respiratory tract flora of those
handling him ,and organisms in the environment.

8/11/2021 13
 Advantages of normal flora

1- Immunostimulation (antibody development)

2-Exclusionary effect (vacuum effect ) and
protection from external invaders.
3-Production of essential nutrients (vit. K & B by
some normal intestinal flora eg. E.coli.

8/11/2021 14
 Distribution of normal flora

• Internal organs (except alimentary tract) are

sterile at health.
• GIT: mouth & large colon
• Urogenital tract : vagina & distal 1/3 of the
urethra
• Skin

8/11/2021 15
8/11/2021 16
8/11/2021 17
8/11/2021 18
Summary

• Symbiosis
• Infection
• Disease
• Virulence factor
• Normal flora

8/11/2021 19