The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2!

**Survivor39** · 21 Sep 2006, 7:15 PM

You can hide this advertisement by registering.

The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2

In your biology course, you have learned about the Koch's postulates to determine the causative organism of an infectious disease. For example, the identification of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a casative agent for the disease tuberculosis.

Question (Difficulty 10/10!!!):

Can the Koch's postulates apply to the identification of viruses as a causative agents? Why/Why not?

Dr_Doom · 30 Sep 2006, 9:25 AM

No as you can only identify the causative pathogen. Viruses are too minute to be isolated and cultured.

**Survivor39** · 30 Sep 2006, 3:33 PM

Pathogens can be anything, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protoza. As long as they causes disease, they are termed "pathogens".

Viruses can be cultured. Size isn't really an issue when you try to culture something.

+Po1ntDeXt3r+ · 15 Oct 2006, 6:54 PM

some viruses cause immune responses that cause the disease... and once the virus is gone but the disease persists...

Group A Strep and rheumatic fever and then Rheumatic heart disease

it can sometimes fail as there are other factors that affect pathogenicity... e.g MAC in AIDS

**Survivor39** · 15 Oct 2006, 9:30 PM

Is that an answer or is it just your random information? Well, some autoimmune diseases are induced by viruses, but these are not identified by the Koch's postulates. But my question isn't really on that.

+Po1ntDeXt3r+ · 15 Oct 2006, 10:01 PM

im just saying that u cant use koch's for everything... btw by ure reasoning my exams are all random :P

ummmm heres random..
host for Mycobacterium Leprae is the human and the armadillo.. see thats random

case88 · 16 Oct 2006, 10:47 PM

in response to the question, i'd probably go yes and no.
going through koch's postulates, the pathogen can be identified. however, viruses multiply by invading the host cell and can often produce dissimilar symptoms within individuals. they're also susceptible to mutations, and so it would not always be possible to easily identify the pathogen.

that's probably a whole lot of hooey (i.e. crap-full-of-shit) but that's probably what i would go for.

sm8 · 17 Oct 2006, 5:00 PM

Can viruses really be cultured? i thought they needed a living host cell in order to reproduce, and if they cant be cultured then Koch's postulates cant be used as you need a pure culture of the pathogen.

ok i tink ive thought about this too much and im getting confused with the information that i know... AH! i really have to study! 20 days!!!!!!

What is they answer by the way? >_< this is annoying me. lol

**Survivor39** · 17 Oct 2006, 10:19 PM

sm8, excellent deduction! In a way you have correctly answered the question.

Remember one of the postulate state that the pathogen MUST be grown in a PURE culture.

Virus cannot be grown in a pure culture. In order to grow viruses, you need to have host cells, either in a cell culture with suitable media (e.g. monolayer of fibroblast), or in an intact whole animal. Hence, the Koch's postulate cannot really be applied.

21 Sep 2006, 7:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Survivor39 Moderator HSC: 2003 Gender: Undisclosed Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,205 Last Activity: Today, 5:10 AM	The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! You can hide this advertisement by registering. The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2 In your biology course, you have learned about the Koch's postulates to determine the causative organism of an infectious disease. For example, the identification of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a casative agent for the disease tuberculosis. Question (Difficulty 10/10!!!): Can the Koch's postulates apply to the identification of viruses as a causative agents? Why/Why not? __________________ PhD, University of Cambridge, 09-12 MSc, UNSW, 08-09 BMedSc (Hons I), UNSW, 04-07 Last edited by Survivor39; 21 Sep 2006 at 7:33 PM.

30 Sep 2006, 9:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dr_Doom Supreme Member HSC: 2006 Gender: Male Location: NSW Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,276 Last Activity: 25 Aug 2009, 4:56 PM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! No as you can only identify the causative pathogen. Viruses are too minute to be isolated and cultured.

30 Sep 2006, 3:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Survivor39 Moderator HSC: 2003 Gender: Undisclosed Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,205 Last Activity: Today, 5:10 AM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! Pathogens can be anything, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protoza. As long as they causes disease, they are termed "pathogens". Viruses can be cultured. Size isn't really an issue when you try to culture something. __________________ PhD, University of Cambridge, 09-12 MSc, UNSW, 08-09 BMedSc (Hons I), UNSW, 04-07

15 Oct 2006, 9:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Survivor39 Moderator HSC: 2003 Gender: Undisclosed Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,205 Last Activity: Today, 5:10 AM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! Is that an answer or is it just your random information? Well, some autoimmune diseases are induced by viruses, but these are not identified by the Koch's postulates. But my question isn't really on that. __________________ PhD, University of Cambridge, 09-12 MSc, UNSW, 08-09 BMedSc (Hons I), UNSW, 04-07

16 Oct 2006, 10:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
case88 Assistant Member HSC: 2006 Gender: Male Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 71 Last Activity: Yesterday, 9:49 PM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! in response to the question, i'd probably go yes and no. going through koch's postulates, the pathogen can be identified. however, viruses multiply by invading the host cell and can often produce dissimilar symptoms within individuals. they're also susceptible to mutations, and so it would not always be possible to easily identify the pathogen. that's probably a whole lot of hooey (i.e. crap-full-of-shit) but that's probably what i would go for.

17 Oct 2006, 5:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
sm8 New Member HSC: 2006 Gender: Undisclosed Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18 Last Activity: 12 Nov 2006, 1:54 PM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! Can viruses really be cultured? i thought they needed a living host cell in order to reproduce, and if they cant be cultured then Koch's postulates cant be used as you need a pure culture of the pathogen. ok i tink ive thought about this too much and im getting confused with the information that i know... AH! i really have to study! 20 days!!!!!! What is they answer by the way? >_< this is annoying me. lol

17 Oct 2006, 10:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Survivor39 Moderator HSC: 2003 Gender: Undisclosed Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,205 Last Activity: Today, 5:10 AM	Re: The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 2! sm8, excellent deduction! In a way you have correctly answered the question. Remember one of the postulate state that the pathogen MUST be grown in a PURE culture. Virus cannot be grown in a pure culture. In order to grow viruses, you need to have host cells, either in a cell culture with suitable media (e.g. monolayer of fibroblast), or in an intact whole animal. Hence, the Koch's postulate cannot really be applied. __________________ PhD, University of Cambridge, 09-12 MSc, UNSW, 08-09 BMedSc (Hons I), UNSW, 04-07

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 4!	Survivor39	To Infinity and Beyond! (extracurricular topics)	13	19 Dec 2006 9:25 PM
The Search for Better Health Challenge Question 3!	Survivor39	To Infinity and Beyond! (extracurricular topics)	5	5 Nov 2006 2:51 PM
The Search for Better Health Challenge Question!	Survivor39	To Infinity and Beyond! (extracurricular topics)	12	19 Oct 2006 8:54 AM
search for better health	daemon22	Biology	6	29 Oct 2005 3:28 PM
Search For Better Health	ali#c	Biology	4	31 Oct 2003 9:49 PM