Biotechnology, Immunity, and Bacterial Diseases: An Overview
Biotechnology: Obtaining Transgenics
To improve:
- Productivity
- Weather resistance [temperature]
- Action against pathologies
Production: Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA [selected desirable gene incorporation] is inserted into an organism to improve it. Restricted bacterial enzymes [DNA sequence] cut the genes. Bacteria are isolated, copied, and then joined to the organism that is to be improved, creating a transgenic organism.
Techniques to Incorporate Macromolecules and Proteins
Projectile injection, diffusion, and viruses are used to introduce macromolecules and proteins inside. Parasites present metabolic activity only within the host. Nucleic acid enzyme + host = reproduction. Outside the host, they present a glass-like aspect.
Immunity
- Inborn: Genetics or colostrum
- Acquired: Active or passive vaccine
Serum vaccine effect is taken up by the pathogenic organism [host] to develop antibodies.
Serum effects incorporate already developed defenses against agents like viruses or pathogenic organisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
Classification of Diseases According to WHO
- Infectious: AH1N1
- Hereditary: Down syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome
- Metabolic: Diabetes
- Degenerative: Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease
- Parasitic: Lice, tapeworm
- Foodborne: Botulism
Infectious diseases spread from a sick host to a healthy host.
Steps of Infection
- Incubation: Reproduction within the host without symptoms (5 to 20 days).
- Development: Symptoms of the disease appear.
- Recovery: Recovery of the weakened host, with possible relapse.
Parasitic Organisms
Parasites feed on another organism. Ectoparasites feed on the surface, while endoparasites feed inside the body. Bacteria are unicellular organisms (Monera) without histones, chromosomes, or mitochondria, but with ribosomes.
Colloidal System
The ratio of solute to solvent. Colloid: Sun (+ ext. of solvent [plasmolysis]), Gel (+ ext. solute [crenation]).
Bacterial Grading
According to Form:
- Areas:
- Coccus: Isolated
- Diplococcus: Two cocci
- Triplecoccus: Three cocci
- Streptococci: Tandem
- Staphylococcus: Cluster
- Elongated:
- Insulated: With or without flagella
- Streptococcus: Row
- Spirilla: Stick
Staining:
Affinity for coloring according to Christian Gram. Gram-positive or Gram-negative depends on their capacity to dye their wall [teichoic acid and peptidoglycan]. Gram-positive has teichoic acid, and Gram-negative has lipopolysaccharide, lipoproteins, and peptidoglycan [antibiotic resistant].
Metabolism:
Lactic acid obtained by fermentation [also alcoholic or lactic fermentation].
Utility:
Negatives: Cause diseases, decrease life, decompose food, contaminate water, cause odors, form plaque.
Positives: Nitrogen cycle, ecosystem (cycle of matter), obtaining food (cheese, yogurt), microbial flora, leaching of copper, obtaining transgenic organisms.
Pathogenic Bacteria
Cause infectious diseases, spreading from a patient to a healthy host directly or through indirect routes (water, food, insects, or animals). Can cause serious diseases leading to death if not treated with specific antibiotics for each bacterium. Can infect different organs such as:
- Skin: Abscess, impetigo, scarlet fever
- Respiratory System: Diphtheria, tuberculosis, pneumonia
- Tract: Typhoid fever (diarrhea), gastroenteritis (dental caries), cholera, salmonella
- Genitourinary: Urinary infection, gonorrhea, syphilis
Bacterial Diseases
Fever, diarrhea, chills, rash, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, breathing problems, infection, inflammation of tonsils, spasms, malaise.
Appropriate Antibiotics
Bacteria that have increased resistance to antibiotics undergo primitive sexual reproduction or conjugation. Gram-negative bacteria are more aggressive and more pathogenic than Gram-positive bacteria due to their lipopolysaccharide cover. To determine the appropriate antibiotic, a sample of bacteria is taken, and a sensitivity test is performed. It is inoculated in a nutrient medium suitable for bacterial development at 37-38°C. The antibiotic with the highest inhibition for the bacteria will be correct.