preview

Syphilis Research Paper

Decent Essays

Organism
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum. T. pallidum has an oddly small genome and lacks genes that encode numerous metabolic functions and classical virulence factors. T. pallidum is vastly infectious and lasts for decades in the untreated host. Early syphilis lesions result from the host's immune response to the treponemes. Treponema pallidum is a spirochetal bacterium often times are found growing in clusters. This pathogen has a protoplasmic cylinder bound by a cytoplasmic membrane, a thin layer of peptidoglycan, and an outer membrane devoid of transmembrane proteins. T. pallidum are spiral shaped, has rapid rotation about its axis, and two to three flagella at each end which allows a corkscrew like motility. It is microaerophilic and glucose-dependent; without glucose, oxygen harms motility. T. pallidum contains extremely small prokaryotic genomes and is accountable for the sexually transmitted disease, syphilis.
Transmission
Syphilis is an extremely contagious disease spread predominantly by sexual activity. Infrequently, the disease can be passed to another person …show more content…

The chancre typically progresses in the genital area. It may also grow on the tongue, lips or rectum if the area has been exposed to a syphilis chancre on another person during oral or anal sexual contact. The chancre can appear after the exposure at any time from 10 days to three months. The chancre heals in one to five weeks. If left untreated, syphilis will progress into a second stage called secondary syphilis. In this stage the bacteria that causes syphilis spread throughout the body. Symptoms start to appear after about six weeks after the chancre has resolved and include flu-like symptoms. These include sore throat, fever, weight loss, fatigue, swollen glands and headache. Other symptoms include hair loss, skin rashes, and a rash around the

Get Access