Questions for Discussion

1. How could you satisfy Koch's postulates in cases such as botulism or S. aureus food-borne disease where the organism does not colonize?

2. Compare the mode of action of three species that cause classical intoxications.

3. Discuss the mechanisms of pathogenicity for the various types of botulinum.

4. Discuss the utility of antibiotics in treating botulism and S. aureus food-borne disease,

5. Given that some genes for botulinal toxin are on mobile elements, is there a danger that these toxin genes might appear in Escherichia coli or some of the gram-negative anaerobes that are found in high concentrations in the human colonic microflora?

6. There is a vaccine for botulism, but it is seldom used. There is no vaccine for staphylococcal foodborne disease nor are such vaccines under development. Explain.

7. Does the fact that S. aureus strains carrying entB produce more toxin than strains carrying entA necessarily mean that strains carrying entB cause a more severe infection?

Updated February 1998

Copyright 1998 by Bruce E. Langlois

URL http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/FoodScience/FSC632/Questions3.html