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Discussion

Properties of pathogens

Hello,

I'm actually taking one last course before I start my RN program in January. It's a microbiology course and I'm writing a research paper about bioterrorism. When it comes to pathologies, however, I'm having trouble differentiating how a virus (i.e smallpox) infects as opposed to how a bacteira (i.e anthrax) infects. Besides the difference in overall physiology of the microbes, I can't really tell what properties of a virus would make it a formidable biological agent as opposed to bacteria.

I know that Bacteria such as anthrax have a spore forming properties making it tough to kill, even to the point where it could survive being autoclaved. Its spore forming properties allow it to survive the body's natural defense within the lymphatic system. Because it allows itself to be preserved as a spore, once its in the lymph, it can still continue to reproduce and infect.

I know that viruses can go through the same vectors as bacteria can. And they go through the same routes of infection that bacteria go through. However, what makes them formidable I believe is that that they can't be killed by antibiotics. And when it comes to pathogens, It is the viruses which have been known to cause cancers.

Besides that though, I'm still having trouble differentiating properties as far as pathology goes.

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    It sounds like you're off to a good start. Are viruses cellular entities? Are they widely considered to be living things? Why would that be important? That's where I might focus next.

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    yeah, that would be a good direction to start looking into . Thanks!

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    apologies for the double posting. I don't see the edit button anywhere but I will gladly use it once someone points it out to me. But I do have some updates as well as new questions. I read up on the differences between bacteria and viruses.

    I know that they both trigger an immune response. Your white blood cells and what not are all over bacteria. But I am not really sure if your immune system does the same thing during a viral infection. Although I know now that the distinct property is while a bacterial cell can divide itself, a virus gets into a cell, mixes in with the DNA and that is how it reproduces itself before attacking other cells.

    As far as countermeasures, I'd say the necessary thing to know to confront bacterial agents is that their strengths is the ability to form spores. However, the way to counteract a bacterium is with an antibiotic depending on what it is susceptible to. I believe that the makeup of the cell wall is the determinant of what type of antibiotic it is susceptible to.

    As for viruses... They rely on a host cell to replicate . Usually it involves work with DNA or RNA. As a countermeasure, I know that in an inactivated form, you can inoculate yourself with it and cause your body to form antibodies against the pathogenic strain.

    However... If viruses can manipulate DNA. A tumor is the result of a cell with bad info on its DNA, which makes it grow out of control and into cancer.. Could the virus' involvement of DNA manipulation be why some viruses cause cancer?

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