The human body is colonized with trillions of bacteria. Why do these bacteria NOT cause disease in most cases? A- The 'good' bacteria don't have any virulence factors B- The opportunists are held at bay by barriers such as the skin and/or mucous C- Normal flora are not a source endotoxins Both A and B Question 14 (2 points) People taking antibiotics are often advised to take a supplemental probiotic such as eating yogurt. Why? A- The bacteria in the yogurt do not cause disease, and will occupy space vacated by bacteria killed by the antibiotic. B- The bacteria in the yogurt may supply us with needed vitamins and also compete with pathogens for nutrients and space. C- There is no real benefit to having bacteria in the digestive tract. Both A and B
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Step 1: The reason why the bacteria colonizing the human body do not cause disease in most cases is because normal flora are not a source of endotoxins, which means they do not produce harmful toxins that can lead to disease. Show more…
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How does competitive exclusion provide protection from disease? Your normal microbiota prevent pathogens from growing. Our immune systems destroy all pathogenic bacteria. Endosymbiosis prevents two species from living in close association. Bacteria from different species cannot perform horizontal gene transfer. How does an infection differ from a disease? Infection is when the host experiences mild symptoms, while a disease is when the host experiences serious symptoms. Infections are caused by bacteria, while diseases can be caused by many different microorganisms. Infection refers to the growth of a microbe within/on a host, while disease refers to the negative effects on the host. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, while diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics.
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What cellular components do some bacterial cells have that make them powerful pathogens? Explain your answer. 2. Why are penicillins often more effective against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria? 3. Why is it important to understand the structure of a bacterial cell when developing an antibiotic? 4. How do antibiotics work without harming the surrounding human cells? 5. What class of antibiotics would you prescribe for Sue? Explain your answer. 6. Why are antibiotics not effective against viruses? (Think back to what you learned about viruses in PBS.)
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Clostridium difficile infection is the leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. It is typically treated with a course of antibiotics, but the infection recurs in about $20 \%$ of cases. $C .$ difficile infections are difficult to eradicate because the bacteria exist in two forms: a replicating, toxin-producing form and a spore form that is resistant to antibiotics. Fecal microbiota transplantation-the transfer of normal gut microbiota from a healthy individual-can resolve $>90 \%$ of recurrent infections, a much better cure rate than further antibiotic treatment alone. Why do you suppose microbiota transplantation is so effective?
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