Session 3: Microbial Pathogenesis and Human Infection

Abstract:

This section is a session on the microbial pathogenesis and human infection. In this session Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is the moderator and Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli are the panelists. This trio, who together cause the majority of bacterial infections, are among the most famous and interesting of the prokaryota. E. coli can relate an array of virulence mechanisms that, in the end, will elicit the most amazement and agitation among those assembled. Stenotrophomonas has lately found its revenge for this nomenclatural insecurity. By occupying several niches in the hospital environment and by shuffling its genes, it has evolved antibiotic-resistant strains which cause nosocomial infections in debilitated humans. More of this is related by its closely related cousin, P. aeruginosa. The main focus of this session is to learn of the several mechanisms by which bacteria exercise virulence, which humans refer to as virulence factors.