Cholera

Learning Objectives
What are prokaryotic cells? How do prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes? What causes cholera and how does it produce the symptoms?

Where does the toxin target?

 The primary symptoms of cholera are profuse painless diarrhea and vomiting of clear fluid, which leads to dehydration. An untreated person with cholera may produce 1020 litres of diarrhea a day with fatal results. For every symptomatic person there are 3 to 100 people who get the infection but remain asymptomatic.

What does it do?

What is responsible?

Vibrio cholerae
A curved rod shaped bacterium with a flaggelum. Bacteria are examples of prokaryotic cells.

A Typical bacteria (an example of a prokaryotic cell)

Cell Wall
Made of peptidoglycan Physical barrier that protects against mechanical damage and excludes certain substances

Capsule
Extra protective layer which can also helps groups of bacteria stick together

Cell Surface membrane

Differentially permeable layer Controls entry and exit of chemicals

Flagellum
Aids movement of bacterium due its rigid, corkscrew shape and rotating base help the cell spin through fluids.

Ribosomes
70S type (smaller than the 80S type in Eukaryotic cells) Protein synthesis occurs at ribosomes; it can be inhibited by certain antibiotics. The difference between prokaryotic (70s) and eukaryotic (80s) ribosomes allows antibiotics to selectively target the prokaryotic ribosomes while sparing eukaryotic ribosomes.

Circular DNA and Plasmids

Circular DNA possesses the genetic information for the replication of bacterial cells. Plasmids can reproduce independently meaning they have use as vectors in genetic engineering. They possess genes that that aid the survival of bacteria by producing enzymes that can break down antibodies.

They have a few feature in common, but what are the main differences?

Some of these are mixed up. Can you put them in right place? Prokaryotic Cells Eukaryotic Cells

No true nucleus, only a diffuse area of nuclear material with no nuclear envelope Distinct nucleus, with a nuclear envelope
Nucleolus present Chromosomes present, in which DNA is located No nucleolus Circular strands of DNA but no chromosomes No membrane bounded organelles Chloroplasts presents in plants and algae Ribosomes are smaller (70S type) No ER, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes Where present cell wall is made mostly of cellulose (or chitin in fungi)

Membrane bounded organelles are present

No chloroplasts, only photosynthetic regions in some bacteria Ribosomes are larger (80S type)

ER , Golgi apparatus and lysosomes present

Cell Wall made of peptidoglycan

Did you get it right? Prokaryotic Cells Eukaryotic Cells

No true nucleus, only a diffuse area of nuclear material with no nuclear envelope Distinct nucleus, with a nuclear envelope
No nucleolus Circular strands of DNA but no chromosomes No membrane bounded organelles No chloroplasts, only photosynthetic regions in some bacteria Ribosomes are smaller (70S type) No ER, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes Cell Wall made of peptidoglycan Nucleolus present Chromosomes present, in which DNA is located Membrane bounded organelles are present Chloroplasts presents in plants and algae Ribosomes are larger (80S type) ER , Golgi apparatus and lysosomes present Where present cell wall is made mostly of cellulose (or chitin in fungi)

How do people get infected with vibrio cholerae ?

How do people get infected with vibrio cholerae ?

Cholera is transmitted by the ingestion of water, or food that has been contaminated with faecal material containing the pathogen.

Can you think of ways that this contamination might happen? How about ways to prevent it from happening?

How does the bacterium cause diarrhoea?

Most are killed in the stomach. Some survive and propel themselves using their flagellum through the mucus lining of the small intestine wall. They then produce a toxic protein. One part binds to specific carbohydrate receptors on the cell surface membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. The second part enters the epithelial cells, causing chloride channels to open. Chloride ions leave the cell and enter the lumen of the small intestine. This raises the water potential of the epithelial cell and lowers the wp of the lumen. Water flows from the cells to the lumen by osmosis. Ions leaving the epithelial cell creates a concentration gradient and ions from the blood diffuse in to replace them. Water follows by osmosis.

How does the bacterium cause diarrhoea?

Lumen of small intestine

Toxin Chloride Channel

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Water

Questions
1. Which organ does the cholera toxin target? Why is its action so specific? 2. How does the cholera toxin cause diarrhoea? 3. Suggest three measures that may be used to limit the spread of cholera. 4. Suggest how inhibiting flagellum development in the pathogen may prevent the disease. Extension: Q2,Q4 on page 67 of textbook