BIO 431
HEALTH MICROBIOLOGY
Function and importance of normal microflora
• The relationship between the skin and the mucous membrane covering the mouth, digestive, secretory and reproductive systems microorganism
• Normal microbial flora members are useful - sometimes necessary, while the other group is Pathogens.
Function and importance of normal microflora
• Pathogens use specialized retention and growth factors, auxiliary enzymes and strong toxins to access food sources.
• Pathogens, Host, Parasite, Pathogenicity
• Infection: Virulence ↔ Host resistance, Opportunist (opportunistic) pathogen
• Virulence: Quantitative measure of pathogenicity
Function and importance of normal microflora
• Infection: Virulence ↔ Host resistance, Opportunist (opportunistic) pathogen
• Virulence: Quantitative measure of pathogenicity
Function and importance of normal microflora
• Age, stress, diet, general health, lifestyle, pre- existing or simultaneous diseases and genetic hardware can suppress the host's resistance to infections.
Function and importance of normal microflora
• Nonspecific physical, anatomical and chemical barriers protect the host from being colonized by pathogens. The absence of these defenses results in susceptibility to infection and colonization by the pathogen.