Review questions for exam 1

• In General: Always be prepared to give specific examples

1. Explain some of the roles of the human microbiota; in what way does it benefit/harm the host?.
2. What host factors determine the normal human microbiota? Give specific examples of barrier, mechanical, and biochemical defenses
3. Define/explain how the following work: IgA, lysozyme, mucociliary action, bile, lactoferrin, bacteriocin
4. Give examples of how the human microbiota can change in a person's lifetime.
5. Describe the normal human microbiota at several body locations (skin, mouth, intestinal tract, urogential tract)
6. Distinguish/define: disease, infection, virulence
7. What are virulence factors? Where do they come from? How do they help the pathogen?
8. What are the 7 capabilities of a pathogen?
9. Distinguish: carrier (4 kinds), host, reservoir, zoonosis, vector, fomite, entry portal, parenteral transmission
10. What are the most common modes of transmission? Give specific examples of pathogens that use each of these
11. When does the presence of a pathogen actually cause disease? List 5 factors that decide this.
12. How do pathogens cause disease (interfere with normal function)? Give several examples
13. Explain 5 different methods that pathogens use to evade host defenses
14. How do pathogens obtain iron?
15. Distinguish exotoxins and endotoxins, giving specific examples.
16. How do viruses cause host damage?
17. How is the diagnosis of an infectious disease accomplished? (Clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, laboratory tests)
18. A doctor has made a presumptive diagnosis from the clinical presentation of a patient. How would the lab go about trying to culture/isolate the pathogen if the diagnosis was
    1. A viral infection
    2. Tuberculosis
    3. Gonorrhea
    4. Streptococcus pyogenes
    5. Staph aureus
    6. E. coli or Salmonella
19. When would lab culture of a pathogen be impractical or impossible? Give 2 examples.
20. What can you learn from a stained specimen? (Identification of fungi, protozoa, bacteria?)
21. Bonus: what unique biochemical reactions might be used to confirm Salmonella? Neisseria? Staph?
22. Explain how antibody-based tests for pathogens work:
    • Direct fluorescence antigen test
    • ELISA
    • Agglutination test for Staph
23. What are some molecular methods by which pathogens can be identified?
24. Distinguish: epidemic, endemic, pandemic, outbreak, index case, sporadic disease
25. Describe the work of an epidemiologist. How can she/he accomplish her/his work at a desk? In the field? In the hospital?
26. Explain the process of disease spread using a simple model (infected, removals, susceptibles etc). What variables affect the spread of a disease?
27. What statistical measurements are available for a disease? Distinguish morbidity, prevalence, mortality.
28. At what link in the infectious disease cycle can epidemiology make a difference? Give a specific example for each answer.
29. What factors uniquely affect the spread of nosocomial infections?
30. Give examples of the most common sites of infection and causes of HAIs
31. Give examples of emerging/reemerging infectious diseases and discuss the factors that have led to this.
32. What epidemiological factors could point to a potential act of bioterrorism?
33. Distinguish Class A, B and C bioterror agents; give examples