Genetic analysis of a disease or infection – thought response

 Reply to two prompts in 100 words each. No sites needed, these are just thoughts on the prompts.  

(Original prompt for you consideration, 

An important characteristic of a medical professional is to make sense of information and then continue to ask questions to collect additional information. You will practice this as you respond to this week’s question. For each of the following, answer the question and then describe what additional questions you might be able to investigate to gain additional information that might enhance your understanding.

• What is its genetic composition?
• What process was used to identify the genetic composition?
• How has this information been used to identify treatments? )

Prompt 1:  

The C. trachomatis genome is substantially smaller than that of many other bacteria encoding approximately 900 genes. Several important metabolic functions are not encoded in the C. trachomatis genome, and instead, are likely scavenged from the host cell. In addition to the chromosome that contains most of the genome, nearly all C. trachomatis strains carry a 7.5 kilobase plasmid that contains 8 genes. The role of this plasmid is unknown, though strains without the plasmid have been isolated, suggesting it is not required for survival of the bacterium. According to our text in Chapter 10, the size of a bacterium’s genome directly relates to how much the bacterium depends on its host for survival. When a bacterium relies on the host cell to carry out certain functions, it loses the genes encoding the abilities to carry out those functions itself. From a clinical perspective, obligate intracellular pathogens also tend to have small genomes (some around Because host cells supply most of their nutrients, they tend to have a reduced number of genes encoding metabolic functions. The size of the genomes of the organism Chlamydia trachomatis is (1.0 million).

Chlamydia alternates between two morphological forms, the elementary body (EB) and the reticulate body (RB). EBs are extra-cellular, metabolically inert forms, responsible for dissemination of infection by their ability to attach to and invade susceptible cells.

Prompt 2:  

I have been discussing Staphylococcus aureus for the last two weeks in my posts. It was first discovered in 1880 by Alexander Ogston when he noticed that clusters of bacteria were present in the pus of a surgical abscess. S. Aureus is a gram- positive round shaped bacterium that is also a facultative anaerobe, which means it doesn’t need oxygen to survive. It is found in grape-like clusters called staphylococci, which can be see when it is looked at under a microscope. S. aureus is produced by binary fission. 

             In order to identify S. Aureus, a sle is taken and sent to a lab to undergo enzyme-based tests. A gram stain is performed and followed by a culture, done by using a salt/agar solution. As a result, yellow-colored colonies begin to form.

              For susceptible strains of S. Aureus penicillin is the antibiotic that is used to treat this infection. It is able to block the production of peptidoglycan connections, which make up the cell wall of this bacteria. Ultimately, this upsets the balance of cell wall formation and leads to the death of the cells. Penicillin does not work for all strains in present day. Up to 90% of strains are now penicillin resistant.