Bacterial Pathogenesis: Bacterial Factors that Promote Colonization

I. BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS

B. VIRULENCE FACTORS THAT PROMOTE BACTERIAL COLONIZATION OF THE HOST

The overall purpose of this Learning Object is to list six different factors that promote bacterial pathogenicity by permitting bacteria to colonize a host. Each of these factors will be described in greater detail in subsequent sections.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THIS SECTION

In this section on Bacterial Pathogenesis, we are looking at bacterial virulence factors that can influence its ability to cause infectious disease. These virulence factors will be divided into two categories:

1. Virulence factors that promote bacterial colonization of the host, and
2. Virulence factors that damage the host.

In this section we will look at virulence factors that promote bacterial colonization of the host.

Virulence Factors that Promote Bacterial Colonization of the Host

Virulence factors that promote bacterial colonization of the host include the ability to:

1. Contact host cells;
2. Adhere to host cells and resist physical removal;
3. Invade host cells;
4. Compete for iron and other nutrients;
5. Resist innate immune defenses such as phagocytosis and complement; and
6. Evade adaptive immune defenses.

We will now look at each of these six factors in greater detail.

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THIS SECTION

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