Microbe Human Interactions Assignment Paper

Chapter 13 Summary

Step 1-Portals of entry 

Microbes have a specific way of entering the human body and changing into disease-causing agents. This involves a process that first involves the microbe entering the body using a characteristic route. In most instances, the entry point is through the mucous membrane or the skin. The infectious agent may originate from diverse sources such as external sources including another person, an animal, or the environment. The sources may be internal such as when there has been a silent infection or normal biota. Different microbes enter the body using specific routes for them to be active in the disease process. This is because, when infections enter the body using other routes they may not cause the desired infections. For instance, the influenza flu can only occur when the microbes enter using the nasal mucosa. However, the same microbes cannot be virulent when they contact the person through the skin. Other disease agents have the ability to cause harm to individuals using multiple routes of entry. Microbe Human Interactions Assignment Paper

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Step 2- Attaching to the host and interacting with the micro-biome 

Microbes use a process of adhesion to get a firm grasp of the host tissues. This process depends on the molecules binding between the pathogen and the host. There are specific cells through which a given pathogen can attach and organisms that it can thrive. After attachment, the pathogen is now ready to multiply and attach to other body parts and organs. Pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and protozoa attach using surface proteins, fimbriae, capsules, or adhesive slimes. On the other hand, viruses attach using some specialized glycoproteins or spikes around their surfaces. Further, parasitic helminths are able to access the routes of entry using barbs, hooks, and suckers. When microbes have a first attachment they have the active ability to cause illnesses since they can freely multiply and spread to other parts. The firm attachment also helps microbes to withstand the body’s ability to fight microbes and other foreign materials. In addition, when microbes comfortably attach they can attract other bacteria of the same species hence causing more harm to the host. Microbe Human Interactions Assignment Paper

Step 3- Surviving Host Defenses

Poorly attached and established microbes find it difficult to survive in the host cells for the first time. They often face resistance from host resistance, especially from the phagocytes. This type of white blood cell destroys microbes by the use of antimicrobial chemicals or enzymes. However, the pathogens have tactics for surviving in the hosts such as the use of antiphagocytic factors. These factors help microbes to evade some instances of the phagocytic process. Some bacteria have the ability to kill the phagocytes once they come into contact. For example, the species of staphylococcus and streptococcus produce leukocidins substance that is toxic to both phagocytes and general white blood cells. Other microbes produce some capsule or slime that prevents them from destruction by phagocytes hence making them survive in the host. Microbe Human Interactions Assignment Paper

Step 4- Causing disease 

Microbes use three techniques in damaging the host systems. They can either secret toxins or enzymes that directly harm the host cells, they can cause an overreaction from the host defense system or they can as well alter host transcription or cell genome processes. Microbes in most instances use virulence factors in causing infection in the host. The virulence factors involve the adaptations that pathogens use to attack and establish in the host. Some microbes’ virulence may be extensive while others can be minimal. For example, HIV or Clostridium tetani adversely damage the host and even kills them while the cold virus attacks the host but only causes little damage. Microbe Human Interactions Assignment Paper