Microbial Adhesion, Colonization and Invasion

Start with adhesion

The flashcard deck Microbes & Disease - Lecture 4 introduces questions about adhesion, including the meaning of a substratum, an adhesin and a receptor. A second deck on bacterial adhesion to and invasion of host tissues and cells also asks about these terms and types of adhesion. Start with either deck to practice the vocabulary, then compare the questions in the other.

The Adhesion deck offers a further set of questions on adhesion steps, pili and sortases. It can be useful after the introductory terms feel familiar.

Move on to invasion and colonization

The flashcards on bacterial invasion ask about adhesins, invasins, stages of pathogenic bacterial invasion and dissemination. Use them after the adhesion decks to connect the terms with questions about invasion of a host.

Bacterial colonisation & Infection asks for definitions of colonisation and virulence, along with examples of infection spread. The Bacteria and invasion deck includes questions about bacteria associated with particular infections and asks for a definition of invasion.

Use the maps and quizzes together

The Microbiology mind map includes entry portals and access determinants. Polymicrobial Infection (Biofilm) covers changes in bacterial form and function and environmental triggers. Look at a map alongside a flashcard deck, then use the questions to check which terms you can recall without the map.

The page also lists a quiz titled Nursing Science Unit 2 Quiz Practice. You can use the quizzes alongside the maps to add question practice to your study of the material.

Explore the unit

This topic is one section of the Microbial Pathogenesis and Host-Pathogen Interactions unit in Microbiology and immunology. The resources here give you ways to work with adhesion, entry, invasion and colonization within that unit. Choose a deck or map and build a study sequence that suits you.