Bacteria Pathogenicity - Essay Example

They play a great role in increasing bacteria pathogenicity because they enable them to move to the targeted locations and to survive. For any infection to occur, the pathogenic bacteria have contacted the target tissues. All organisms whether plants or animals deal with flagellated bacteria. The main locations of most flagellated bacteria are the mucosal areas. Pathogenic bacteria have flagella that help them in attacking and colonizing the mucosa.

The flagella attack the mucosa through the production of the virulence and adhesion factors (Wassenaar, 2009). Flagella increase pathogenicity through motility. The glycocalyx and mucus obstruct the pathogens. As a result, the pathogens have to counterbalance the upward movement of mucus in the bronchial epithelial and the intestines through motility in order to achieve colonization. Chemotaxis and motility enable the bacteria to aim at the mucosal tissues. For instance, the motility of the bacteria like helicobacter pylori and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for stomach and lung infections.

Additionally, the motility of the Vibrio cholerae enhances the infection of the intestinal mucosa. The infection of the rabbit appendix by the S. enterica also relies on their motility. Consequently, flagella plays a great role in enhancing pathogenicity since motility makes it easier for pathogens to interact with the hosts (Winn & Koneman, 2006). The structure also contributes to the increase in pathogenicity through adhesion. Flagella enable bacteria to occupy a certain niche by acting as an adhesin.

For instance, the flagella of the Clostridium difficile stick to cecal mucus in mice through adhesion. Cystic fibrosis also occurs when the bacteria called P. aeruginosa sticks at the airway lumen through adhesion. The bacteria cause infection when the flagella bind it to the mucin Muc 1 which is found in the airway mucus. In addition, Escherichia coli, which are also the intestinal bacteria, attach themselves to the mucus through the flagella adhesion. The adhesion of the flagella occurs due to the presences of the adhesive substances on the flagella.

Most bacteria that attack the epithelial cells such as the Yersinia enterocolitica have sticky flagella. Additionally, flagella increase the pathogenicity when they act as systems through which toxins are secreted. The flagella transmit toxins through the common systems called the Type III Secretion System (TTSS). The system acts as a syringe through which virulence substances are transferred into the cells of their hosts. The toxins kill the host cells by taking over the cytosolic way. For instance, in some bacteria such as the Y.

enterocolitis the flagella secrete toxins such as the phospholipase Yp1A. Conclusively, most bacteria cause diseases to their hosts through pathogenicity. The presence of certain structures in the bacteria affects their ability to infect their hosts. Some of the structures encompass the flagella, fimbriae and tissue fluid. The flagella affect the bacteria pathogenicity through various mechanisms such as the motility, adhesion, and secretion of toxins.