Question

We live in constant association with trillions of microorganisms, most of which do us no harm (commensals) and some of which benefit us (mutualists). However, a select few microorganisms are pathogenic in nature, and it is these organisms that make a large impact on public health. For your pathogen essay, you can select any pathogen that peaks your interest. It should be ~500 words in length and should utilize >5 references outside of your textbook. You may use any reference style you’d like as long as it is organized and one of the standard formats for scientific writing. For example, it is common to put a number in parentheses (1) or superscripted^₁ at the end of the sentences or paragraphs to which a specific reference was applied, and then to have a corresponding numerical list of references at the end of the essay.

Your paper should touch on the following topics:

• Why You Chose This Pathogen

• Classification/Genome Organization

• Key Molecular/Cellular Structures

• History of Discovery/Characterization

• Current Public Health Burden (incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, socioeconomic impact)
• Epidemiology (pathogen reservoirs, ease and route of disease transmission)

• Life Cycle/Replication Cycle

• Characteristic Immune Response

• Clinical Disease/Pathology

• Available or Developing Treatment/Vaccination Strategies

Answer 1

Pathogen

Any microorganism, capable of causing diseases such as bacterias, viruses, protozoa or fungi.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Streptococcus : A spherical gram- positive bacterium, of the genus Streptococcus. Although commonly found in human mouth and gut and though many species are non pathogenic, other species can cause disease including sore throat and more serious condition like Pneumonia.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae mainly causes the disease Pneumonia, which affects approximately 400 million people in a year world wide. It causes 4 million deaths including young children.So this Pathogen is of great importance.

Genus : Streptococcus

Species: S. Pneumoniae.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae also known as Pneumococcus pneumoniae. This microorganism is isolated by George Sternberg and Louis Pasteur. It was formerly known as Diplococcus pneumoniae.

Genome organisation: A closed , circular DNA is present in the streptococcus.

Cellular structure: Streptococcus Pneumoniae is a gram- positive diplo cocci( arranged in pairs). It is non motile , no flagella is present and it doesn't form any spores.

Public health burden: Streptococcus Pneumoniae causes a number of diseases especially in young children and old age people such as Pneumonia, meningitis, brain abscess, bronchitis and inflammation of middle ear( otitis media).

1-2 million under five children are dying yearly, due to Streptococcal infection . Approximately 450 million people are affecting with pneumonia yearly. It gives a great burden on Government for providing the medical services to the affected population.

Pneumonia

An acute or chronic inflammation of the lungs especially air sacs ,caused by Streptococci bacteria is called pneumonia. The bacteria spreads through infected droplets. Mode of transmission is Inhalation of infected droplets ( coughing or sneezing by pneumonia patient)

Pathology:

Infection of lungs with Streptococcus awake immune response resulting in inflammation of lung tissue and alveoli. It may leads to puss and fluid collection in the alveoli. This results in breathing difficulty.

Symptoms and Signs

Fever and chills

tachypnoea( increased breathing)

cough

chest pain

Treatment

Antibiotics . example; Ceftriaxone, penicillin

Antipyretics for fever

Oxygenation

Vaccination: Pneumococcal vaccination ( PCV 13) ( WHO recommended for Children vaccination schedule) ; first dose at 2 months of age, then at 4 months and at 1 year.