Hanisha's+Bacteria

= __Hanisha's Bacteria__ =

//Clostridium tetani//
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 * Tetanus is caused by //Clostridium tetani//, known as //C.tetani//; it is nicknamed lockjaw because when a person is infected, their jaw is the first to go, and later all voluntary muscles.
 * It is an infectious disease caused from the contamination of wounds by the //C.tetani// bacteria.
 * The bacteria[and the disease born from it] have been terrorizing people for centuries.
 * The name comes from the Greek words //tetanos and teinein// meaning stretched or taut.
 * It describes the state the muscles affected by tetanospasm[ the toxin produced by the bacteria] are in.
 * //Clostridium tetani// is a versatile bacteria that can lurk in the soil for many years in the form of a spore.
 * This organism is definitely pathogenic because it enters contaminated wounds, and later takes over the muscles with its dangerous toxin, attacks the nervous system, and usually kills its host painfully.
 * Its toxin, tetanospasm, causes tetanus and does most of the harm.
 * This bacteria has a fatality rate of 30%.
 * //C.tetani// is an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus that forms spores.
 * It is described to look like a drumstick, club, or racket.
 * The bacteria is sensitive and resistant to heat, but it is unable to survive in the presence of oxygen.
 * //C.tetani// is also resistant to usual antiseptics.
 * This organism's spores are everywhere:soil, dust, animal intestines, animal feces[including humans].
 * It attacks millions of people, but it's most likely to be found in hot, moist,[and usually filthy]crowded areas.
 * //C.tetani// spores grow only in proper anaerobic conditions, but the perfect habitat is a wound with plenty of dead cells.
 * Once they are ready, they will produce two toxins:tetanolysin and tetanospasm.
 * Tetanolysin is a hemolysin that doesn't seem to be harmful, but tetanospasm is the one that causes tetanus for sure.
 * Tetanospasm is a 150kD peptide made out of a heavy chain[B] and a light chain[A] joined by a disulfide bond[the bond between sulfur atoms that connect two peptide chains].
 * The heavy chain specifically bonds to neuronal cells.
 * The light chain, a zinc endopeptidase attacks the vessicle associated membrane protein and blocks the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters.
 * Inhibitory neurotransmitters produce inhibitors that bind to receptors on excited neurons.
 * The binding of the inhibitor blocks the neuron from releasing the acetylcholine[the pervading acid compound] that is responsible for muscle contraction.
 * As a result, the muscle relaxes.
 * If these neurotransmitters[a chemical substance like acetylcholine that transmits nerve impulses] are blocked (as the case when these toxins are present), there is nothing stopping the release of acetylcholine from the excited neuron.
 * As a result, the muscle will stay contracted.
 * Tetanospasm is used to create the toxoid used in immunization vaccine. Tetanus toxoid [a toxin rendered non toxic by any chemical agents] was first produced in 1924 and consists of a formaldehyde-treated toxin.
 * Tetanus is the only vaccine-preventable disease that's not contagious, but infectious.
 * In the generalized version, the toxin, tetanospasm is sent everywhere through the lymphatic and vascular systems, and it soon takes over the nerves.
 * It spreads through the rest of the body, beginning with the neck and reaching the back.
 * Muscle rigidity occurs when the body tries to respond to different stimuli all at once.
 * Spasms can result in fractures, tendon ruptures, and respiratory failure
 * Death from tetanus is usually because of cardiovascular instability and respiratory failure.
 * A few other symptoms caused by autonomic dysfunction can be fever, sweating, and high blood pressure.