Question

1- In the study of infectious disease, why does it matter how closely related two species of bacteria might be?

Answer 1

1. In the study of infectious disease, the significant relation between two species of bacteria can be explained in terms of the number of genes which they share in common. It has a direct influence on the virulence factors present in the bacteria. They can be clustered together in groups on the bacterial chromosomes or occur on the extrachromosomal plasmids. In case of two closely related species of bacteria, it has been found out that the virulence genes are often carried on one species of the bacterium giving rise to a pathogenic one while the other is devoid of the same giving rise to a non pathogenic bacterium. Not only that, their similarities and differences in replication, enzyme synthesis, metabolism process helps in designing of specific antimicrobial drugs to target these bacteria.