Microbial Interactions and Pathogenicity Quiz

Microbial interaction methods include symbiosis, competition, and mutualism, but decomposition is a non-interactive process.

Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of the other (host), causing harm to the host.

Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Mutualism is a type of microbial interaction where both organisms benefit from the relationship, promoting mutual survival and growth.

Staphylococcus aureus on the skin can act as a pathogen, causing infections and diseases.

Pathogens cause disease by actively damaging host tissues during infection.

Bacteria can evade the host immune system by forming biofilms, protective structures that make them more resistant to immune responses.

Viruses contribute to pathogenicity by infecting host cells and causing cell lysis, releasing new viral particles.

Virulence factors like toxins enhance the ability of microbes to cause disease by damaging host tissues.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Quorum sensing allows bacteria to coordinate gene expression based on population density, influencing pathogenicity.

Horizontal gene transfer, like transformation, plays a role in microbial pathogenicity by facilitating the exchange of genetic material among bacteria.

Viruses use antigenic variation to evade the host immune system by altering their surface antigens, making it difficult for the immune system to recognize and mount an effective response.

Effector proteins play a key role in microbial pathogenicity by modulating various functions within host cells, aiding the microbe's survival and replication.