Which body system is mainly affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

A microorganism that is not motile and has stopped metabolizing is not necessarily dead. Some microorganisms can enter a dormant or quiescent state under adverse conditions, such as nutrient deprivation, extreme temperatures, or exposure to antimicrobial agents. In this state, metabolic activity and motility may temporarily cease, but the organism remains viable and capable of resuming growth and reproduction when favorable conditions return. True microbial death is defined as the irreversible loss of the ability to reproduce under optimal conditions, regardless of temporary changes in metabolism or motility. Therefore, absence of movement or metabolic activity alone does not confirm death.

A. Fimbriae: Fimbriae are short, hair-like appendages on the surface of many bacteria that enable them to adhere to surfaces, including medical devices like catheters. This attachment is critical in forming biofilms, which protect the bacteria from the host immune system and antibiotics, making infections persistent and difficult to eradicate.

B. Flagella: Flagella are long, whip-like structures used primarily for bacterial motility. While they help bacteria move toward favorable environments or away from harmful stimuli (chemotaxis), they are not directly responsible for attachment to surfaces such as catheters.

C. Ribosomes: Ribosomes are intracellular structures responsible for protein synthesis and play no role in bacterial adhesion. They are essential for growth and replication but do not contribute to attachment or biofilm formation.