IMMUNOLOG

Y&
Serological and Molecular Diagnosis of

SEROLOGY Infectious Diseases

TABLE 1:

     
DEFINATION EXAMPLES

   
- It is a relationship that, there is no - Staphylococcus epidermis, which is
apparent benefit or harm to either colonizes and inhabits the human skin.
organism. The indigenous microbiota is
 Commensalistic often referred to as “commensals” or
“Commensalistic bacteria”, which
describing the bacteria that are recovered
in culture that do not represent a
pathogen.

   
- It is a relationship, that both humans and - Lactobacillus species, that colonizes
 Mutualistic the bacteria benefits. the epithelial surfaces of the vaginal
canal.

   
- Parasitic relationship, exists between the - Chlamydia trachomatis, sexually
 Parasitic Relationship other organisms and the host. transmitted organism.
TABLE 2:

     

DEFINATION EXAMPLES

   
 Pathogenicity - Refers to the inherent capacity of an - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
organism to cause diseases. This is a are considered to be primary or true
qualitative trait of the organism determined pathogens that are capable of causing
by its genetic make up. harm to a majority of individuals that have
intact immune system.
   
 Virulence - Is quantitative trait that refers to the - Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of
extent of damage, or pathology, caused by bubonic plague and pneumonic plague
the organism.

   
- Refers to an organisms ability to establish an -, is extremely contagious and has Measles
 Infectivity infection. More specifically , infectivity virus a high degree of infectivity.
describes the proportion of individuals
exposed to a pathogen through horizontal
transmission.
 Serological and Molecular
Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

TABLE 3:
 DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
BACTERIA TRANSMISSION PATHOGENESIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
(SEROLOGICAL METHODS)
It is indicated for treatment and
Yersinia pestis is primarily a rodent pathogen,
prophylaxis of plague, including
Yersinia pestis is transmitted to with humans being an accidental host when Previously, studies have reported that Y.
pneumonic and septicemic plague,
Yersinia pestis humans by the bite of rodent bitten by an infected rat flea. The flea draws pestis can be confirmed simply by
caused by Yersinia pestis in adults
fleas’ exposure. viable Y. pestis organisms into its intestinal detecting antibodies against the F1 antigen
and pediatric patients, aged 6
tract.
months or older.
DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
VIRUS TRANSMISSION PATHOGENESIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
(SEROLOGICAL METHODS)
HCV is a non-cytopathic virus, thus, its Specimens for Hepatitis C antibody are Hepatitis C is treated using direct-
The hepatitis C virus is usually
pathogenesis is regulated by host immunity initially tested using a chemiluminescent acting antiviral (DAA) tablets. To
spread when someone comes
Hepatitis C Virus and metabolic changes including oxidative microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) for the avoid HCV, avoid sharing personal
into contact with blood from an
stress, insulin resistance and hepatic qualitative detection of Hepatitis C care items that might have blood
infected person
steatosis antibody in human serum on them
DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
FUNGUS TRANSMISSION PATHOGENESIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
(SEROLOGICAL METHODS)
The most common way that healthcare Itraconazole is one type of
The disease is acquired by Histoplasma capsulatum is a thermally
providers test for histoplasmosis is by antifungal medication that's
Histoplasmosis inhaling the spore stage of the dimorphic fungus, growing as a mold in the
taking a blood sample or a urine sample commonly used to treat
fungus. environment and as a yeast at 37ºC.
and sending it to a laboratory. histoplasmosis.
DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
SPHIROCHETE TRANSMISSION PATHOGENESIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
(SEROLOGICAL METHODS)
A single intramuscular injection of
All subspecies of Treponema
Treponemes are highly invasive pathogens Serologic testing is key to diagnosing long acting Benzathine penicillin G
pallidum can be transmitted
Treponema pallidum which often disseminate relatively soon after syphilis, an infection caused by the T. will cure a person who has
through direct contact with
inoculation. pallidum spirochete primary, secondary or early latent
active lesions
syphilis.
DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
PARASITE TRANSMISSION PATHOGENESIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
(SEROLOGICAL METHODS)
Most healthy people recover from
Toxoplasma can be transmitted Host cells are destroyed by active The diagnosis of T. gondii infection is
toxoplasmosis without treatment.
to humans by three principal multiplication of T gondii. Necrotic foci may usually based on histopathological
Persons who are ill can be treated
Toxoplasma gondii routes: a) ingestion of raw or result. Congenital infection often involves the examination, serological assay, and
with a combination of drugs such
inadequately cooked infected retina and brain; focal chorioretinitis may isolation of Toxoplasma by mouse
as pyrimethamine and
meat result in impaired vision. inoculation
sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid.
 Serological and Molecular
Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

TABLE 4:
 BACTERIA VIRULENCE FACTORS SYMPTOMS ENDEMICITY AND PREVALENCE
Symptoms include high fever, chills,
Plague has occurred in people of all ages
F1 antigen, Psa, and four Yops (YopT, YopH, YopE, headaches, chest pain, rapid breathing, and
Yersinia pestis (infants up to age 96), though 50% of cases
and YpkA) severe shortness of breath and cough that
occur in people ages 12–45.
might bring up blood.
VIRUS VIRULENCE FACTORS SYMPTOMS ENDEMICITY AND PREVALENCE
Based on CDC estimates, 2.4 million
Resistance to interferon (IFN) is an important Jaundice, bleeding and bruising easily, persons are living with active HCV infection,
Hepatitis C Virus virulence factor as it is essential for establishment of fatigue, dark-colored urine, itchy skin, fluid corresponding to a 1.0% HCV prevalence
HCV infection and development of disease. buildup in abdomen among the adult population in the United
States.
FUNGUS VIRULENCE FACTORS SYMPTOMS ENDEMICITY AND PREVALENCE

The characterized virulence determinants of H.

One study calculated the incidence of
capsulatum are mainly surface expressed molecules
histoplasmosis in adults aged 65 years and
that mediate the interaction between the fungus and
older in the U.S. to be 3.4 cases per
Histoplasmosis the host's immune cells allowing the pathogen to Fatigue, fever, cough, chest pain
100,000 population. Rates were highest in
evade destruction by innate immune response and
the Midwest, with an estimated 6.1 cases
facilitate the replication of the yeast in its new
per 100,000 population.
environment.

SPHIROCHETE VIRULENCE FACTORS SYMPTOMS ENDEMICITY AND PREVALENCE

The T. pallidum genome sequence does not reveal

any obvious classical virulence factors that could
account for syphilis signs and symptoms. T. pallidum The prevalence of T. pallidum infection was
Treponema pallidum lacks lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (105), the endotoxin Lesion, Sore throat 1.2% (95% CI 0.8 to 1.7%). Risk factors
found in the outer membranes of many gram- varied by gender
negative bacteria that causes fever and
inflammation.

PARASITE VIRULENCE FACTORS SYMPTOMS ENDEMICITY AND PREVALENCE

Toxoplasma gondii ROP16 and ROP18 proteins
Toxoplasma gondii have been identified as important virulence factors
for this parasite
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan
Swollen lymph glands, especially around the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the United
neck, Muscle aches and pains, headache, States it is estimated that 11% of the
fever population 6 years and older have been
infected with Toxoplasma.
 Serological and Molecular
Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

TABLE 5:
 TABLE 5:
Serological methods in the detection of the disease
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
(ELISA)
Latex Agglutination
Enzyme Immunoassays (EIA)
DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a labeled
immunoassay that is considered the gold standard of
Diagnosis of HIV infection, pregnancy tests, and
immunoassays. This immunological test is very sensitive
measurement of cytokines or soluble receptors in cell
and is used to detect and quantify substances, including
supernatant or serum.
antibodies, antigens, proteins, glycoproteins, and
hormones.
The latex agglutination test is a laboratory method to
The test uses a variety of body fluids including blood,
check for certain antibodies or antigens in a variety of
body fluids including saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, or
urine, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid, which are
dependable on what type of sample is needed.
blood.
Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) are used to visualize and
quantify antigens. They use an antibody conjugated to an
Detection of HIV antigen p24 up to one month after being
enzyme to bind the antigen, and the enzyme converts a
infected
substrate into an observable end product. The substrate
may be either a chromogen or a fluorogen