AID Flashcards
Microbiology
=study of organisms too small to see with naked eye
archaea
Archaea is a domain of single-celled organisms. These microorganisms lack cell nuclei and are therefore prokaryotes.
protozoa
one-celled animals found worldwide in most habitat
whittlers five kingdom tree is wrong because it is
outdated
the three domains
monera = archaea and bacteria
-crown taxa = very little diversity
-protista is eukaryotes and microbial world s much more diverse
what are microbes
-small bacteria 1-6 micrometers in size
-largest bacteria visible to eye
eukaryote microbes
-fungi
significance of microbes to global biomass
-estimate of total microbial cells on earth is 4-6 x 10^30
-microbial carbon equals that of all plants
-microbial N and P is >10X that of plant biomass
bacteria and archaea
-major portion of biomass on earth
-microbial carbon equals that of all plants
why are there so many bacteria
-rapid growth rate = many changes at speciation
-lateral gene transfer
phototroph
energy from light
chemotroph
energy from chemical bonds
ganotroph
organic compounds as e donors
lithograph
inorganic compounds as e donors
autotrophs
CO2 as carbon source for example plants
heterotrophs
organic carbon as carbon source HUMANS
photolithoautotroph
light energy, water as e donor, fix carbon dioxide
more complex media
some microbes have to be grown inside eukaryotic cells or in an animal
growth of bacteria
-by binary fission or budding
-cells double in size then split into two
-exponential growth
why can bacteria not grow forvever
bacterial growth curve
measurement of growth
-cell number
-optical density
-fresh/dry weight
-protein
-DNA
ways to identify microorganisms
-microscopy and staining
-growth on selective media
-testing substrate spectrum supporting growth
-testing enzyme activities
selective media
= allows growth of only some types of organisms used to culture presumed pathpogens
differential media
= allows the identification of organisms based on growth and appearance on that medium often based on colour differences used to determine if potentially pathogenic
testing of enzyme activities
-ApiZym a common test system mainly optimised towards pathogens
-culture of organism resususpended in buffer
-test wells are inoculated
-resulting colour in test strip is compared against a database
Darwins’ warm little pond hypothesis
-life started in warm water body (primordial soup) with nutrients to live
-evidence that organic molecules can form spontaneously
-unlikely to be true due to hostile conditions on surface (high UV)
subsurface origin hypothesis
-earth has water 4.6 bill years ago
-planet surface was still volcanic so hydrothermal vents at ocean floor suggested around was more stable conditions
-
origins of cellular life
-from prebiotic chem to cellular life
-in hydrothermal vents
-lots of compounds necessary for life
origins of cellular life simple compounds became
more complex (long chain fatty acids to form lipids
-self replicating RNA by making nucleic acids
landmarks in biological evolution early life dependent on H2 and CO2
-bacteria making acetate = simple organic compound using organisms to make energy
-archaea can turn acetate back into methane and carbon (a carbon cycle)
-life is starting to settle as there are microbes growing and volcanic activity is decreasing
phylogenetic methods
-ribozyme = ribosome is the best known example of surviving ribozyme
-before molecular biology didn’t know archaea existed
-allows us to determine how related organisms are to each other
-contradicted whittlers tree of life
why are ribosomes useful to study
all orgnanisms have them (universal)
3 domains of life
-phylogenetic tree of life as defined by ribosomal RNA sequencing
evolution of eukaryotes
-the separation of archaea and eukaryotes is mitochondria = an archaea with bacteria stuck inside and created an organelle with other abilities
fossils suggest eukaryotes rose around
2.5 billion years ago
endosymbiont theory
-mitochondria incorporation of aerobic chemo-organotrophic bacteria into host cell
-chloriplasts : incorporation of phototrophic cyanobacteria into a eukaryotic cell
hydrogen hypothesis
-association of an archaea host using H2 as energy source with an aerobic bacterium that produced hydrogen as a waste product
-bacterial cell was producing hydrogen as waste and lots of archaea use hydrogen as energy source so they stuck together becoming endosymbiotic
cyanobacteria and plastids
-blue treen algae
-plastids were originally cyanobacteria
actinobacteria
= high GC content they vary in morphology and metabolisms and are heterotrophs
what is systematics
-study of the diversity of organisms and their relationships
-links phylogeny with taxonomy
-bacterial taxonomy traditionally focused on phenotypic comparisons
-recently molecular analyses allow taxonomy to reflect evolutionary relationship between organisms
no unified species concept
-higher organisms species - interbreed and produce viable offspring
-problematic in microbiology due to asexual reproduction, lateral gene transfer and phenotypic genotypic plasticity of microorganisms
polyphasic bacterial taxonomy
-phenotypic analysis = morphological, metabolic, physiological and chemical characteristics
-genotypic = comparative at the gene and genome level
-phylogenetic = framework of evolutionary relationships
issue with phenotypic analysis
-observable traits can be altered by one single muation
morphological is studied with
gram staining
gram staining procedure
-stain to help visualise
-spread culture in thin film over slide
-dry
-pass through flame to fix
-flood slide with stain and rinse dry
-place drop of oil on slide examine with 100 x objective
-add iodine for 3 minutes
phenotype- biochemical tests
-decomposition of simple carbs
-acid from glucose in anaerobic conditions
phenotype - biochemical tests
-enzymes that decompose large molecules are tested in agar plates
-DNA hydrolysis (DNase)
identifying bacteria cultural characteristics
-colony based characters
relationship to temperature
_____phile
psychrophiles
-low temperatures (<15°C)
-permentaly cold temps
-adapted to deal with low temps
-adapted with PROTEIN STRUCTURE and MEMBRANE FLUDITY
hyperthermophile
-very high temps (>80°C)
-believe last common ancestor was hermothermophic
genotyping analyses
-pre-sequencing approaches to bacterial identification
-DNA hybridisation genome wide comparison of sequence similarity useful for discrimination of strains of a species
-fatty acid profiling
sequencing trumps all
-ability to sequence DNA (late 1980s)
-PCR and Sanger sequencing
why study the cell surface
-where microbes and immune system interact
outer layers of bacterial cells outside to in
diagram on lecture 4 copy down
capsules
-polysaccharide component of outside cell wall
-usually loose network of polymer fibres extending outwards from the wall
-tight matrix
role of capsules
-not required for growth or repoduction
-carbon store
-protection against desiccation
-capture nutrients attachment to biofilms
s-layer
-paracrystalline outer wall layer composed of protein
-regularly structured external to cell wall
-may protect against ion and ph fluctuations
peptidoglycan or murein
-alternating residues of NAG and NAM
-arranged in dimers which are cross linked by amino acid side chains
-a mesh-like polymer that retain the gram stain in gram +ve cells
D-amino acids
-non-protein
-protect against degradation
-makes peptidoglycan resistant to proteases
PG synthesis cross links
-chains of linked peptidoglycan subunits joined by cross-links between the peptides
-often carboxyl group of terminal D-alanine connected to amino group of diamond pimelic acid (DAPA) causes strong bond
-Sacs are strong enough to retain shape when isolated yet are porous(small molecules can get through), elastic and stretchable
overall structure of gram +ve cell wall
-all of the outer layer of gram + bacteria thicker than -
and up to 90% of cell wall up to 25 sheets of peptidoglycan
peptidoglycan and the gram -ve cell wall
-little PG in gram negative bacteria typically 10% of total cell wall
-between inner and outer membrane
lysozyme
-antibacterial enzyme
-degrades the beta 1,4 glycosidic bond in PG backbone
-loss of PG makes cells sensitive to changes in osmotic pressure
penicillin inhibits PG synthesis
-linker peptide initially has two D- Ala
-halting cell wall synthesis
overall structure of gram + ve cell wall
-teocoic aci found only in these cells
-role is unclear may make membrane negatively charged
membrane basics
-hydrophillic phosphate heads face outwards
-channel proteins have hydrophobic proteins
sterols/hopanoids
-hopanoids in bacteria and sterols in eukaryotes
-rigid planar molecules while fatty acids are flexible
-stabalise membrane structure
OM linked to cell in two ways
-brauns lipoprotein = most abundant protein in OM covalently linked to peptidoglycan and embedded in OM by hydrophobic end
-adhesion sites = where two membranes adhere
allows transport of substances
how do archaea membranes show they are different domains to eukaryotes and prokaryotes
they are different
major lipids of the archaea
-single headed like phospholipids and make bi-layer and biphytanyl is double headed ether lipids make a mono layer to stabilise membrane at extreme temp/ph
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
-large complex molecules containing lipid and carbohydrate
-lipid A
-core polysaccharide
-O side chain
structure of LPS of Gram - ve :component 1: lipid A
-two glucosamine residues linked to fatty acids and phosphate
-lipid A is integrated into the outer membrane
structure of LPS of Gram - ve : component 2 core polysaccharide
-also referred to as R antigen or R polysaccharide side chains of NAG
-highly structural can in itself induce immune response
structure of LPS of Gram - ve : o side chain
variable region responsible for antigenic make-up of bacteria
-different O serotypes linked to disease
-species specific attachment to specific receptors
-extends outwards from the cell
-lipid A and core polysaccharide are straight and O side chain is flexible and bent
-rough or smooth depends on side chain length
functions of LPS
-lipid A stablises outer membrane structure
-core polysaccharide charged
-charged hydrophilic external layer reduces permeability of hydrophobic substances
-protects against host defences
endotoxin
-many pathogens produce endotoxins
-released during cell division or by lysis of bacterial cells
-can act to prime immune system against pathogen
assaying for LPS limulus amaebocyte lysate - LAL test
-amaebocytes are the blood cells of limulus polymephus
-contains a clotting factor that is released if coming into contact with bacterial endotoxin
-natural immune mechanism that contains bacterial infection
important properties of endotoxins
-heat stable
-toxic in nanogram amounts
-interacts with immune system cells = trigger release of cytokines in cascade and
can REESULT IN
-inflammmation fever
OM as permeability barrier
-OM is more permeable than inner membrane
-due to presence of porins
-allow small molecules in
prin superfamily
-homotrimeric transmembrane proteins
-highly conserved structure
0form water filled channels in OM
porin selectivity
-most are non-specific that allow passage of small meolcules
porin qualties
-high thermal stability
-resistant to protease and detergent degradation
-essential for survival of gram - ve bacteria
porins have common beta strand structure
-unusal structure with 16 antiparalelle Beta barrel
cross section of porin monomer
-hourglass
-hydrophobic band that sits in membrane
-charges inside pore define size of solute hat can transverse channel
periplasmic space
-compounds diffuse through porins into periplasm
-gel like consistency due to abundant proteins
-removal of cell walls without lysing the cells allows study of the proteins and enzymes present in this space
enzyme activity in periplasm
-nutrient acquisition
-hydrolytic enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase
-energy conservation = ET protein
protein export into periplasm
-sec pathway = exports nascent polypeptide through cytoplasmic membrane using a translocase
-foliding of protein occurs after translocation
-proteins have an N-terminal signal peptide
TAT pathway
-exports fully folded enzymes across cytoplasmic membrane
-proteins have a twin arginine in N terminal region
transport across cytoplasmic membrane
-the three classes of membrane transporting systems
-particularyly happens to glucose
types of transport events
several well-characterised simple transporters of E.coli
what are flagella
-long thin extracellular helical structures made of protein subunits that aid in motility
-flagella are connected to a motor that spins them clock or anti clockwise allowing bacteria to swim
-motor is a nano-technoligical marvel
structure if the flagellum
-complex outer ring structures anchored into the membrane
-flagellum shaft is easily removed by vigorous shaking
-different antigenic properties of shaft tip of shaft and hook
the motor
driven due to transfer of protons through the ring structure
structure of the flagellum filament
-filament made of single protein
-base is different to the shaft and is known as the hook
-single protein connecting the shaft to the motor
-moves like a rotary motor
flagella synthesis
-MS and C rings in cytoplasmic membrane
-motor proteins
-P and L ring hook and cap
-flow of flagellin through hook , growth of filament
how does the motor work
-rotary motion provided by the basal structure
-powered by proton motive force
-mutational analysis suggests dependence on an Asp residue in MotB
flagella are different in gram +ves
-in gram +ve no L and P rings
-anchor in the membrane layer is more complex
-mot proteins surround inner ring and movement of these relative to each other provides the force
types of flagella
-monotrichous = single tail
amphitricious = tail on either side
lophotrikhous = multiple on either side (can spin)
peritrichous = multiple on both sides but face one direction
motilitlity alternates betwen
-run and tumble
-Run = motor routes anti-clockwise, flagella filaments form bundle and propel cell
-tumble = quick reversal of motor to clockwise rotation produces twisting force that transforms flagella into a right handed-helix
aerotaxis
usually movement towards oxygen
motaxis
movement towards nutrients or away from toxins
magnetotaxis
movement along lines of magnetism
phototaxis
movement towards light
chemicals that are attractants will
have high concentrations of cells/organisms
chemotaxis biased random walk
METHYL-ACCEPTING CHEMOTAXIS PROTEINS(MCP)
bacteria sense changes in nutrient concentration in environment
-they may have a set of transmembrane proteins METHYL-ACCEPTING CHEMOTAXIS PROTEINS(MCP) which interact with cytoplasmic proteins
-che proteins which interact with rings of motor regulating direction in which it turns
chemotaxis signal recognition
MCP also called
transducer
MCP interacts with sensor kinase CheA which can autophosphorylate it can be an attractant and repellent
-attractant decrease in CheA
-repellent increase in CheA
fimbriae are
bacterial adhesions
fimbriae/pili role in adhesion
-loose association
-adhesion role for pili fimbriae
-invasion into or through submucosal epithelial cells
type 1 fimbriae
-well characterised fibril system widespread in bacteria like e coli
-important virulence factor
-thin
Virulence
is described as an ability of an organism to infect the host and cause a disease
p-pili
also known as PAP: pyelonephritis- associated-pill
-its a UTI
-can be fatal
-similar structure to type I fimbriae
type IV pili
-widely distributed in gram negatives
-some in gram positives
-typically longer than fimbriae and only a few per cell
-thin flexible fibres
-involved in HOST CELL ADHESION and TWITCHING
species specificity of pathogens
-many pathogens are species specific
-specificity of e coli pathogens is determined by LPS and fijmbraie
CFA colonising factor antigen
fijmbraie are present on E coli pathogenic to humans
sex pilus
-the e coli f plus
-identified in 1960s
-required for gene transfer
-bacteria observed in light microscopy obviously tethered by an invisible thread
conjugation steps
-attachemnt of F+ donor and F- recipient
-retraction
-exchange
-transformation of both F+ cells
bacterial endospores
-dormant stage in bacterial life cycle
-called endospores because they form inside bacterial cell
-very different from fungal exospores
-survival stage = extremely resistant to heat, desiccation and radiation
-some viable for 100,000 years
spore stain malachite green
-white in gram stained cells
-internal spores pink
-ecternal are red and blue
sporulation
-complex series cellular differentiation events
-several stages each controlled by different genes
-more than 200 genes involved
-process takes around 8h to complete
structure and resistance of endopsores
-many new layers outermost layer is exosporium- thin layer of proteins
-not essential for survival but maybe for dispersal
-there is a metabolically inactive core with genome cytoplasm and ribosomes
-can be resistant up to 150 °C
germination of gram +
-uptake of water and amino acids triggers germination
-rapid in 30 minutes
-loss of refractive nature as re-hydrates at same rate as loss of resistance
-cell is released and begins to grow in normal way
areas of body not sterlie
urinary tract abd lungs
gut has lots of
bacteria but as yo go through there Is less due to PH
the human microbiome
-concept suggested by Joshua lederberg
-“microbiome = the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space
human microbiome
-production of vitamins by bacteria
-implicated in a range of conditions like colon cancer
virulence factors
determined by many factors that aid in adhesion and antiphagocytic activity and production of toxic s
genetic elements encoding virulence factors
-virulence may be plasmid or phage encoded
-in chromosome they may occur clustered in so- called pathogenicity islands
-some genetic elements are the result of horizontal gene transfer
-other genetic elements can aid in horizontal gene transfer from one strain to another
MRSA and VRSA
emerging pathogen as little antibiotic treatments left
vaccination history
evidence of variolation in china over 1,000 years ago
-Edward jenner 1796 invents vaccination with cowpox
haemophilus influenzae
-gram negative coccobacillus
-non-encapsulated strains carried asymptomatically in urinary tract
-major cause of bacterial meningitis
what is the immune system
network of different organs and cells to protect body from pathogens
gram +
n bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test