Lecture 15- Commensals

Commensals Mutualism ? Both partners benefit ? Vitamin B and K production Commensalism ? One benefits while the other is neutral ? Flora living on skin Benefits ? Protect against harmful organisms ? Cover potential biding sites ? Consume available nutrients ? Produce toxic compounds ? Stimulate immune system Skin ? Diptheroids ? Called this due to similarity in appearance ? Responsible for BODY ODOR due to the break down of sweat ? Staphylococci ? <+> salt tolerant ? S. epidermidis ? prevent colonization of pathogenic bacteria ? maintains balance ? Fungi ? Found all over skin ? lipophiles ? Generally harmless Respiratory Tract ? Staph ? Ususally colonizes the nasal passages (S. aureus) ? Corynebacterium ? Diphtheria ? Moraxella ? nonpathogenic ? Haemophilius ? <-> , H. influenzae ? Bacteroides ? Strep Genitourinary ? Lactobacillus ? Staph ? Coryne ? Strep GI ? Important in protecting body from invasion ? Mainly found in oral cavities and the intestines ? Esophagus has very little microbiota ? Stomach not totally devoid but has very little Oral ? Strep most common ? Plaque is a biofilm