Articles related to "Virulence"

Virulence of the bird flu virus is partially attributed to its high mutation rate, which greatly facilitates genetic recombination, and as such more virulent strains.

Fimbriae are external structures of Gram- cells which enable bacteria to adhere to surfaces and, as virulence factors, mediate infection of host cells.

Evolution of H1N1 responds to selection pressures within infected individuals and during spread to others. Isolation and hand washing can prevent a deadly pandemic.

The H5N1 virus, popularly called the "bird flu" virus, is a subtype of the Influenza A genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family.

MRSA, coined a superbug by the media, was until recently considered a hospital infection control concern but has now made its way into the community.

The emergence of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is similar to that of penicillin resistance seen in the 1960s.

A simple bacillus, a soil resident, can cause a simple black ulcer on the skin, or it may spread through the entire body of a mammal and lead to death in a few days.

Clostridium difficile (aka C. diff or CDF) has recently emerged as a serious infectious agent, both deadly and resistant to antibiotics. Why is C. diff a superbug?

Bacteria in the genus Streptococcus can be classified by species, hemolysis pattern and by their antigens, chemicals to which the human immune system reacts.

When antibiotic prescriptions are not followed, drug resistant bacteria evolve and antibiotics become less effective. Proper use of antibiotics is essential.

Prokaryotes are evolutionarily ancient, for billions of years the only form of life. Here's a summary of the basic "parts & pieces" of these primitive cells.

Vaccines promote basic antigen antibody host responses to foreign antigens. This "anamnestic response" helps contain and destroy future encounters with the same antigen.

Think that stress and spicy food cause ulcers? Think again! Although these factors can make an ulcer worse, peptic ulcers are actually caused by the bacterium H. pylori.

Most E. coli are non-pathogenic (non-disease-producing) and are referred to as commensal - the dictionary definition of commensal is "one who eats at the same table".

Bacteria and viruses are both tiny infectious agents with the ability to cause disease. So it is not surprising that these microbes are sometimes mistaken as the same.

The swine flu is most deadly for children and the elderly. Learn how to protect them from infection.

Superbugs have become a topic of discussion in the media. MRSA is one of the most common talked about superbugs that is now spreading from the hospital to the community.

Genetic Engineering is a human-invented technique, right? Wrong. A simple garden bacteria, Agrobacteria first came up with the idea to make genetically modified foods.

Most Gram-negative bacteria have hair-like projections external to their cell's wall. One type, fimbriae, allows bacteria to stick together and attach to host cells.

When antibiotic prescriptions are not followed, drug resistant bacteria evolve and antibiotics become less effective.

There are three basic classes of vaccine: live, killed and toxoid. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here is guide to compare modern inoculations.

Prokaryotic cells can have a variety of surface appendages - flagellum, fimbria or pilus - that enable them to move, adhere to surfaces and even infect host cells.

A number of factors contribute to the risks of illness following consumption of contaminated foods.

The H1N1 influenza pandemic that is spanning the globe is not unusual in human history. Influenza constantly changes its coat to evade immune defenses.

Both bacteria and viruses can cause disease. However, these two types of infectious agents achieve their pathogenicity in different ways.

A small number of cases of influenza worldwide have proven to be resistant to the popular anti-influenza drug Tamiflu.

Nicotine has an anti-inflammatory effect via the vagus nerve, which is useful against many diseases, and perhaps may block the cytokine storm of the H1N1 swine flu.

Recent research suggests that supplementing with selenium can increase your cholesterol levels by almost 10%, leading to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

With the first African cases of H1N1 flu in Egypt, the World Health Organization has declared the recent flu virus outbreak a pandemic. How did it get to this?

There are good staph bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis), bad staph (Staphylococcus aureus), and really bad, pathogenic staph (MRSA). Here's a comparison.

What specifically are the main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? Here is a side by side comparison to simplify mastering the basics of cell structure.

MRSA acquired by persons who have not been recently hospitalized or had a medical procedure are known as community-acquired (CA-MRSA).

The village of Eyam in Derbyshire is famed for sealing itself off and preventing the spread of the plague in the seventeenth century.

A healthcare system that limits access for the poor and under-insured will be incapable of responding to a pandemic in a timely fashion.

Swine flu, H1N1, bird flu, H5N1, type A influenza - these are five terms used to describe the various strains of a single virus, but what is the difference?

About 60% of adults and adolescents have suffered primary oral herpes infection, and to 40% of those have recurrent infections.

Louis Pasteur, a chemist by vocation, did path breaking work in the field of medical microbiology and has advanced our understanding of causes and prevention of diseases.