Unit

4
Topic 6 note 5

Invading the body

Diseases can spread in many different ways. For any disease to spread, the pathogen needs to
enter the body of the new host.
Method of spread

• Vectors- An organism that transmits pathogen from one host to another. Eg: insects
Mosquito spreading malaria or dengue
• Inhalation – droplets made when a person cough, sneeze or talk may contain pathogens
that another person may inhale. The pathogen enters the respiratory tract and infection
gets established. Eg: flu, measles, tuberculosis
• Ingestion- Contaminated food or drink cause pathogens to enter the gut. Raw or
undercooked food has a greater risk of infection. Eg: diarrhea, salmonella food
poisoning
• Fomites – inanimate objects that carry pathogens from host to host, such as hospital
towels, beddings or even someone else’s cosmetics. Eg: Staphyloccocus infection
• Direct contact- Spreading skin diseases in small children or many sexual diseases spread
by direct contact of the genital organs and the pathogen pass through the mucous
membrane. Eg: HIV, gonorrhoea , Ebola
• Inoculation –pathogen can be inoculated to the body directly through a break in the
skin, contaminated medical equipment, though infected anima bite, lick or scratch or
contaminated knife or sharp objects. Eg: HIV, rabies and tetanus
Barriers to entry
Epithelial defences
Skin is an impenetrable layer strengthened
by Keratin (a fibrous protein).It forms a
physical barrier for the pathogens.
Sebum, an oily substance produced by the
skin contains chemicals that inhibit the
growth of microorganisms.
Natural skin flora competes with the
pathogens as they are better adapted to
the skin conditions. They release chemicals
that inhibit the growth of other
microorganisms.
The pharynx and the large intestine have
protective coverings similar to skin.

Unit 4
Topic 6 note 5

The surfaces of internal tubes are also lined by epithelial cells. They are not strengthened by
keratin, instead they produce mucus that traps microorganisms. Mucus has enzyme Lysozyme
that destroy cell walls of microbes. Cilia move mucus trapped with microorganisms outside of
body.
Defense in the Gut
Saliva has bactericidal properties.
Stomach acid HCl effectively destroys most of the microorganisms.
Natural gut flora compete successfully for nutrients and space with any microorganisms
manage to pass through the stomach.
Vomiting is a complex process that can happen due to infection of the gut to remove many of
the microorganisms from the system.

How do bacteria cause disease?
Once pathogenic bacteria enter the body, they cause signs and symptoms of disease in number
of different ways.

• Some invade the tissues and destroy them

• Most bacteria produce toxins as a by-product of their metabolism.
Endotoxin-
These are Lipopolysaccharides that are integral part of the cell wall of Gram negative bacteria.
Lipid part of Lipopolysaccharide acts as the toxin and the polysaccharide stimulate immune
response.
Eg: Salmonella sp and E. coli
Exotoxin
These are usually soluble proteins that are [produced and released into the host’s body by
bacteria. Exotoxins are produced by both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
Some Exotoxins can damage cell membranes causing cell breakdown or internal bleeding, some
act as competitive inhibitors to neurotransmitters, others directly poison host cells.
Exotoxins rarely cause fevers but cause fatal bacterial diseases.
Eg: Clostredium botulinum