Killer Germs by Zimmerman

Ref: Barry & David Zimmerman (2002). Killer Germs, Microbes and Diseases that Threaten Humanity. McGraw Hills. ISBN: 978-0071409261.

___________________________________________________________________

Summary­

  • A journey through the incredible world of pathogens.

  • Virus: A Nucleic Acid core with a protein coat that attaches to living cells at receptor sites. The protein coat is very specific and must fit perfectly, explaining why virus are so often species specific. Viruses enter cells and use the cells machinery to replicate themselves by producing enzymatic proteins which produce 1000s of copies of viral nucleic acid.

    • DNA Virus: Viral DNA create Viral RNA which create Viral Proteins.

    • RNA Virus: Viral RNA creates Viral Protein.

    • RNA Retrovirus (HIV): Viral RNA creates Viral DNA which creates Viral RNA which creates Viral Proteins.

  • Prion: A Pure Protein, Proteinaceous Infectious Particle.

  • Protozoa: Unicellular parasite, found in all water.

___________________________________________________________________

DNA

  • Nitrogen Bases: A, T, C, G are N-bases that make up rings of double helix. These control the cell functions by determining the proteins the cell makes.

  • RNA: A messenger molecule that carries code from the DNA to the protein factory outside the nucleus.

___________________________________________________________________

Bacterial Diseases

  • Tuberculosis (aka TB, White Plague, White Death)

    • Name: Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    • Tx: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol.

  • Lyme Disease

    • Name: Borrelia burgdorferi

    • Vector: Blacklegged Ticks (about the size of a period).

    • Sx: Three Stages

      • Stage 1: Flu- Like with a Rash (shaped like a Red Target).

      • Stage 2: Heart & Nervous System Disorders

      • Stage 3: Arthritis

    • Tx: Remove Ticks with tweezers by pulling them slowly upwards.

  • Streptococci (aka Strep): Gram Positive Spherical bacteria; three types:

    • Alpha- hemolytic.

    • Beta- hemolytic.

      • Group A: Streptococcus.

        • Invasive Group A: Flesh Eating Strep (1” of flesh per hour).

    • Gamma- hemolytic.

    • Sx: Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)- drastic drop in BP, accompanied by Fever, and Organ Failure.

___________________________________________________________________

Viral Diseases

  • Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Virus: Arbovirus with an ~15% Fatality Rate.

    • Vector: Arthropods, namely mosquitoes.  

  • Hepatitis: Liver Inflammation; three types:

    • A: Spread orally by contaminated food, water (Acute).

    • B: Sexual or blood contact, infects 5% of world.

    • C: Body fluid, can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

    • Sx: Jaundice; liver doesn’t destroy RBC’s properly causing bilirubin (green and yellow skin pigmentation). 

  • Herpes Simplex Virus: Two types

    • HSV-1: Effect the skin/mucous membrane of cells of mouth and lips.

    • HSV-2: Effect the genitalia, they hide (latency).

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

    • Mechanism of Action: Annihilates the T4 (helper T) Cells which release interleukins that turn on/off every component of the immune system. This allows opportunistic infections to take place such as PCP and KS.

    • Tests: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Western Blot, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

    • Transmission: HIV comes in through mucous membranes attacking T4 cells in the lymph nodes and throughout the body. Patients are HIV+ for 8-9 years while the Immune System fights the Virus.

    • Tx: Antisense Drug Therapy; targets Viral RNA and halts protein synthesis.

  • Influenza: An RNA Virus with a high mutation rate.

  • Legionnaires Disease

    • Sx: General Malaise (flu-like), loss of appetite, muscle pains, headache, low-grade fever, chest and abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, spike in fever up to 105F with shaking chills, dry cough, pneumonia, mental confusion, or delirium.

  • Measles

    • Most contagious disease on Earth.

  • Polio

    • Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated substances, which usually remain in the digestive tract, however can spread to nervous system and kill

___________________________________________________________________

Prions

  • Mad Cow Disease

___________________________________________________________________

Protozoa

  • Sleeping Sickness

    • Name: African trypanosomiasis.

    • Vector: Tsetse Fly.

  • Leishmaniasis: A protozoa that lives within WBCs.

    • Vector: Sand Fly.

  • Malaria (Bad Air)

    • Name: Plasmodium Falciparum.

    • Vector: Arthropods, namely mosquitoes (anopheles, aegypti).

    • Mechanism of Action: Begins from the bite of a female anopheles mosquito which injects 1000s of plasmodia called sporozoites, which head to the liver, where reproduction occurs. Illness begins when cells burst.

    • Sx: Burning Fever, sweating

___________________________________________________________________

Misc Quotes

  • Central DOGMA of Biology: DNA makes RNA which makes Proteins.

___________________________________________________________________

Terminology

  • Cancer: Uncontrolled Cell Division.

  • Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT)

  • Hemophiliac: A person lacking Factor VIII Clotting.  

  • Integration: Viral DNA that splices itself directly into the host genome.

___________________________________________________________________

Chronology

  • 1987: HTLV-3 is renamed HIV.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1983: HTLV-3, later known as HIV, is first discovered by Dr. Robert Gallo.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1982: HIV is first isolated by Luc Montagnier of the French Pasteur Institute.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 21 Jul, 1976: Legionnaires Disease is first identified after 34 people die at a PA American Legion meeting.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1975: Lyme Disease is first identified in Lyme, CT.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1959: The first known case of HIV, following the death of an English Sailor.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • Jan, 1944: Streptomycin is discovered by Waksman.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1939: Penicillium is first created from Lyophilization by Fleming.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1932: Sulfa drugs including Prontosil are discovered by Domagk.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1918: The Spanish Flu (aka Swine Flu) afflicts half the world’s population.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • 1898: Plasmodium falciparum is first linked to Malaria.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

  • ~3000 BCE: The common cold is spread from horses to humans.-Killer Germs by Zimmerman.

___________________________________________________________________