Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Fundamentals of Physiology PM1A > Bacteria > Flashcards

Bacteria Flashcards

1
Q

what are the different structural components of bacteria?

A
  • capsule
  • cell wall
  • nucleoid
  • plasmids
  • plasma membrane
  • ## ribosomes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what can certain bacteria produce?

A 
endospores (allow bacterial genome protection - in a dormant state when the environmental conditions are unfavourable)
inclusion bodies (bacteria in unstable environments store excess nutrients within inclusion bodies)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are bacterial sizes

A

0.5 micrometer to 5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are the shapes of bacteria

A

coccus, bacillus, vibrio, coccobacillus, spirilli, spirochete

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the capsule?

A

organisational layer located outside cell wall and composed of polysaccharides or proteins (glycoalyx)

Can get capsulated or non capsulated bacteria
Capsuled produce smooth colonies
Non capsulated produce rough colonies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what do capsules protect the cell from?

A

drying
attachment of phages
antibacterials
phagocytic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is bacterial mode of nutrition?

A

absorptive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what cellularity is bacteria?

A

multicellular, prokaryotic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how do bacteria reproduce?

A

binary fission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is the major component of the bacterial cell wall

A

peptidoglycan

or murein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what are the layers of peptidoglycan composed of?

A

long chains of alternating molecules of N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylmuramic acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how are tetra peptide chains linked in gram positive and negative?

A

gram positive = linked by pentaglycine cross bridges

Gram negative = directly cross linked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what do antibiotics do to bacterial cell wall?

A

as peptidoglycan is unique to bacteria it is a good target - interfere with PG synthesis - weaken the cell wall and make cells more susceptible to effects of osmotic pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the cell wall like in gram positive?

A

simple - thick layer of peptidoglycan with embedded teichoic acid external to the plasma membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the cell wall like in gram negative?

A

complex- 3 layers -
thin layer of peptidoglycan
inner membrane
outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what are teichoic acids?

A

the PG layers are embedded with these TAs (CHO chains that extend - they stabilise PG by increasing its rigidity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is embedded in the PG layers that increase its rigidity?

A

teichoic acids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is mycobacteriaceae?

A

have PG and TAs but also an additional external layer of waxy mycolic acids in the cell wall. - They’re called acid fast bacteria

19
Q

why are mycobacteriaceae called acid fast bacteria?

A

Because acid fast stains are used to penetrate the mycolin acid during staining - stain red by carbolfuschin

20
Q

what is the nucleoid?

A

DNA and DNA proteins are in the nucleoid. DNA interacts with nucleoid associated proteins that assist in the organisation and packaging of chromosome

21
Q

what are plasmids?

A

sometimes bacteria have extra chromosomal DNA which isn’t part of the chromosome - they are in plasmids which are small, circular dsDNA. - carry genes that confer advantageous traits

22
Q

what is the plasma membrane?

A

selectively permeable bilayer of mainly phospholipids formed with ester linkages, and proteins. The phospholipids and proteins move laterally within the plane as well as between phospholipid layers

23
Q

name and describe 3 types of membrane transport

A
  1. Simple diffusion (passive) - high concentration to low - small molecules
  2. Faciliated - uses selective protein carriers channels - charged and large molecules
  3. Active transport - when cells move across a membrane against concentration gradient - requires ATP
24
Q

What are the colours of gram positive and negative on gram staining with crystal violet?

A

positive- purple

negative-pink

25
Q

what is the primary stain for the acid fast staining of mycobacteria?

A

carbolfuschin

26
Q

what is the order of reagents used in gram stain?

A

crystal violet, iodine, decolourizer, safranin

27
Q

the process of gram staining is based on the ability of the bacterial cell wall to what?

A

retain crystal violet dye during solvent treatment

28
Q

why do bacteria store nutrients in inclusion bodies in a polymerised form?

A

It reduces the build up of osmotic pressure as the cell accumulates solutes

29
Q

what are:
volutin granules
sulfur granules

A

volutin granules - inclusions that store polymerised inorganic phosphate that can be used in metabolism and assist in biofilm formation

sulfur - in sulfur bacteria (thiobacillus) - store elemental sulfur for metabolism

30
Q

What are the characteristics of endospores?

A
  • resistant to extreme temps and radiation
  • dont absorb gram stain - only endospore stain
  • dehydrated, no metabolic activity
  • dormant
31
Q

outline sporulation

A

Formation of septum in vegetative cell, septum divides.- DNA replicates. = foreshore

  1. Membrane forms around the forespore
  2. Protective cortex forms around forespore by laying down layers of calcium and dipicolinic acid between membranes
  3. protein spore coat forms around cortex and mother DNA disintegrates
  4. Maturation forming the outermost exosporium
  5. Mother cell disintegrates and the endospore is released
32
Q

what is sporulation and why does this happen?

A

process of a vegetative cell turning into an endospore - this happens when nutrients are depleted or the conditions in environment are unfavourable

33
Q

what happens to endospores once living conditions improve?

A

undergo germination to re-enter a vegetative state

34
Q

name gram positive bacteria that produce endospores (5)

A
  • B.anthracis (anthrax)
  • C.tetani = tetanus
  • C.botulinum = botulism
  • C.difficile
  • C.perfrinogens = gas gangrene
35
Q

what are filamentous appendages and what do they do?

A

protein appendages embedded within cell envelope - extend outward and allow interaction with environment - attach to other surfaces, transfer DNA or aid in movement

36
Q

what are 3 types of appendages

A

fimbriae
pili
flagella

37
Q

what are fimbriae

A

short, bristle like proteins projecting from the cell surface by the hundreds - enable cell to attach to surfaces e.g on host cell or for biofilm production

38
Q

what are pili

what is F pilus

A

longer, less numerous protein appendages aiding in attachment to surfaces.
F pilus = sex pilus for transfer of DNA between cells - physical

39
Q

what are flagella

A

stiff, spiral filaments composed of flagellin protein subunits - move in aqueous environment and have propellers to dictate direction of bacteria

40
Q

what are the 4 types of flagella arrangements

A
  1. monotrichous - singular flagellum at end of cell (polar) - vibrio cholera
  2. amphitrichous - flagellum at each end - spirillum minus
  3. lophotrichous- tuft at 1 end - pseudomonas aeruginosa
  4. Peritrichous - cover entire surface - E.coli
41
Q

how do bacteria achieve directional movement?

A

by changing the rotation of their flagella

42
Q

flagella rotations

A

1- bundle when they rotate anti-clockwise resulting in a run

  1. Rotate clockwise they are no longer bundled resulting in tumbles
43
Q

describe bacterial cell division (binary fission)

A
  1. genome attached to membrane (by mesosomes)
  2. chromosomes replicate and separate
  3. septum formation
  4. septum divides - 2 daughter cells separate that are identical to parent (diplococci, chains)
44
Q

describe gram staining

A
  1. Crystal violet - primary stain added to specimen - stains cells purple or blue (pink)
  2. Iodine - mordant makes dye less soluble so adheres to cell walls - they remain blue or purple
  3. Alcohol - decolourizer washes away stain from gram negative cell wall. Gram pos remain their colour
  4. Safranin - counterstain allows dye adherence to gram negative walls - gram negative appear pink

Fundamentals of Physiology PM1A (23 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions