Question

Name 2 defenses of the gastrointestinal tract that would prevent intestinal pathogens from causing disease in the host.

Name 2 organisms that infect the GI tract that produce toxins.

Answer 1

1. 2 defences of the gastrointestinal tract that would prevent intestinal pathogens from causing infection are:

(a) Physiological defence: acidic environment in the stomach

(b) Chemical defence: digestive juices such as bile salts (biliary tract) and ampipathic peptides (like WBC defensins)

(2) 2 organisms that infect the GI tract that produce toxins are:

(a) Shigella- produces shiga toxin (Stx) which are cytotoxins and causes dysentery

(b) Vibrio cholerae- produces cholera toxin (Ctx) responsible for diarrhea