Identify an Bacteria and Describe its Mechanism of Infection (Essay Sample)

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Pathogenic Bacterium
Among primary school children, pathogenic bacteria are microorganisms that cause disease to humans, animals or trees. At the undergraduate level, I know better than to refer to them as mere "disease causing agents”. Some pathogens stopped causing thanks to evolution of the host and mutation of the microorganism. The ability of the pathogen to reduce the host’s level of fitness depends on two principal factors- the immunity of the host and the size of the inoculum. A successful pathogen is the one that does not overly reduce the fitness of its host to the extent of killing it. Pathogens such as Ebola virus are not successful because they kill their hosts within a short timeframe of colonization. This research paper seeks to describe the pathogenic mechanisms of Bacillus anthracis, symptoms, history, and preventive measures
The first set of criteria for the diagnosis of anthrax was developed in the 16th Century (Turnbull, p.3). However, during those days, the disease was not identified by its current name but by the general symptoms. In 1877, Robert Koch used anthrax to develop the famous Koch postulates- a step- by- step process used to determine the causative agent of a particular infection. It was not until 1881 that the first vaccine for anthrax came into being after numerous attempts by Louis Pasteur. Since then, many scientists have come up with different designs for possible anthrax antibiotics. However, the disease remains to be among the most virulent according to CDC reports.
The symptoms of anthrax depend on the type of the initial infection. With an incubation period of between 1 and 30 days, an anthrax infection is capable of spreading throughout the body if not treated in time. According to the site of infection, there are four types of anthrax- Cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal and injection anthrax (Spencer, p. 25). Each of these types of anthrax has its distinct clinical symptoms. The main characteristic of cutaneous anthrax is small blisters that may have a black painless sore (ulcer). Inhalation anthrax attacks the respiratory system hence responsible for coughs, chest discomforts, shortness of breath, among others. Gastrointestinal anthrax may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and swelling in the abdomen. When a person is injected with Bacillus anthracis, the symptoms are similar with those of cutaneous anthrax. The only difference lies in the fact that injection anthrax spreads faster in the body, hence more virulent.
The primary reservoir for Bacillus anthracis, in the form of spores, is the soil. Human beings can acquire these spores by ingesting contaminated food. The spores are adapted to survive the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract. After meeting favorable conditions within the human body, the spores germinate to the Bacillus anthracis. The pathogen will then spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms occur when the bacteria release toxins into the vascular system. Infected people are capable of propagating the disease through body contact with the uninfected.
The best form of prevention against anthrax is vaccination (Turnbull, p.87). Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) is effective against cutaneous and inhalation Anthrax. The vaccine is administered ...