Question

Choose all of the following attributes that are necessary for any bacterial pathogen to attach to and colonize a host cell.

A. Compete for nutrients

B. Capsule production

C. Utilize spikes to attach to host cells

D. Ability to survive new host environment

E. Presence of fimbriae

Answer 1

Answer: B. Capsule production, C. Utilize spikes to attach to host cells, E. Presence of fimbriae

Explanation

The glycocalyx or capsule is a carbohydrate–enriched coating that covers the outside of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, it is an important defense mechanism especially in bacteria. The possession of a glycocalyx on bacteria is associated with the ability of the bacteria to establish an infection. There two functions of glycocalyx, firstly it helps them to evade phagocytosis by surrounding the bacterial cell and thus the organism is able to manifest itself in host.

Secondly it is able to promote the adhesion of bacteria to living and inert surfaces and then subsequently lead to formation of a adherent glycocalyx enclosed population that are called bio films. The bacterial biofilm can become very hard to kill due to presence of glycocalyx. (Examples are dental plaque caused by streptococcus mutans, chronic lung infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa   

Another appendage which is important is host cell infection is called Pili or fimbriae or spike. They are tubes that protrude from the bacterial surface and are constructed of a protein called pilin, they help in recognition of receptors on the surface of host cell and subsequent attachment to host cell receptor. These are also known as fimbriae there can be hundreds of fimbriae scattered all over the bacterial surface. Their attachment function makes fimbriae an important disease factor. An example is Neiserria gonorrheae, the agent of gonorrheae. Strains of the bacteria that produce fimbriae are more virulent than strains that do not manufacture the appendage