VIRULENCE FACTORS OF MICROBES

OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTICLE:  By the end of this presentation, the learner will be able to;

1)  Mention the most common infectious tools used by microbes

2)  Describe the reasons microbes can attack different body tissues

INTRODUCTION:  Different microbes are able to cause infections in various parts of the human body some of which are curable while others are not.  The possessions that aid a microbe to cause disease are the virulence factors.  These empowers the microbe to invade and destroy human body systems.  In this discussion, we are going to look at some of the most common virulence factors for different microbes that are responsible for their pathogenicity.  

1.  Hylonidase:  Withe aid of this enzyme, possessing microbes are able to digest soft tissues.  

2.  Catalase.  

3.  Spores:  Spores are the non vegetative forms of bacteria, that help the generations of bacteria to servive hash conditions.  When spore get access to the microbial requirements, they then regenerate to actual bacterial cells.  

4.  Extremely aggressive cell walls:  Some bacteria have cell walls that are impenetrable to drugs and chemical disinfectants.  The bacterial cell wall 

5.  Reverse transcription:  Reverse transcription is common with retroviruses.  Such viruses, are able to reverse the Central Dogma of microbiology.  Retroviruses

6.  Transform cellular DNA:  The ability of an organism to transform cellular DNA, enables it to stop the cell from dividing and subsequently induce cell death.  Cell death

RELATED;

1. GRAM POSITIVE COOCI

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