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Zorluk: OrtaInfectious Disease Mechanisms

Match each clinical vignette with the molecular mechanism of the primary virulence factor responsible for the patient's symptoms.

  • A 6-year-old unimmunized boy presents with a thick, grayish pseudomembrane over his tonsils and profound cervical lymphadenopathy.Toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor-2 (EF-2), leading to inhibition of host cell protein synthesis and cell death.
  • A 32-year-old man presents with painful muscle spasms in his jaw and face after sustaining a puncture wound to his foot.Metalloprotease-mediated cleavage of synaptobrevin, preventing the exocytosis of inhibitory neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
  • A 24-year-old aid worker develops sudden, severe, large-volume watery diarrhea without fever.Toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of the Gs alpha subunit, resulting in continuous adenylate cyclase activation and chloride efflux.
  • A 3-month-old infant presents with paroxysms of severe, rapid coughing followed by a high-pitched inspiratory sound and post-tussive emesis.Toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of the Gi alpha subunit, preventing the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and impairing phagocyte function.

Cevap

1. Diphtheria matches with EF-2 ribosylation; 2. Tetanus matches with SNARE cleavage; 3. Cholera matches with Gs ribosylation; 4. Pertussis matches with Gi ribosylation.
Each clinical scenario corresponds to a classic toxin-mediated disease. The pseudomembrane of diphtheria is caused by EF-2 inhibition leading to cell death. The spastic paralysis of tetanus is caused by SNARE protein cleavage preventing inhibitory neurotransmitter release. The watery diarrhea of cholera is driven by Gs activation increasing cAMP. The whooping cough of pertussis involves Gi inhibition, which also increases cAMP and impairs host defenses.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Analyze each vignette to identify the underlying pathogen based on classic clinical presentations.
Identified Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Clostridium tetani, Vibrio cholerae, and Bordetella pertussis.
Correct identification of the organism is required to recall its specific virulence factors.
2
Recall the major exotoxin produced by each identified organism.
Diphtheria toxin, tetanospasmin, cholera toxin, and pertussis toxin.
Exotoxins are the primary mediators of the systemic symptoms seen in these infections.
3
Map each exotoxin to its exact molecular mechanism of action.
Diphtheria targets EF-2; Tetanus targets SNARE proteins; Cholera targets Gs; Pertussis targets Gi.
Understanding these molecular pathways connects the foundational science to the clinical manifestations.

Anahtar Kavram

Molecular mechanisms of bacterial exotoxins
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