Bacteriology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the size comparison for bacteria compared to viruses and human cells?

A

Viruses are the smallest, then bacteria and then human cells being the largest

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2
Q

What is the study of fungi called?

A

Mycology

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3
Q

Can fungi manufacture their own food/ What is this called?

A

No, called heterotrophs

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4
Q

What are three key features of fungi:

A

Composed of filaments called hyphae
Have cell walls composed of chitin
Don’t have flagella

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5
Q

How is lysine synthesis carried out in fungi?

A

AAA Pathway- Amino Adipic Acid pathway

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6
Q

What is the fungal cell wall composed of?

A

Beta-1,3 and B-1,6 linked glucans
Chitin

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7
Q

What is the cell membrane made of in fungi and plants?

A

Plants- Sitosterol
Fungi- Ergosterol

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8
Q

What do fungi produce as a means of reproduction both sexually and asexually?

A

Spores

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9
Q

Give four commercial products fungal cells can produce due to their metabolic pathways:

A

-Ethanol
-Organic acids
-Enzymes
-Antibiotics

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10
Q

Describe Protozoa:

A

Eukaryotes- like animals don’t have cell wall
Heterotrophic (doesn’t produce own food)
Specialised vacuole for food digestion and water elimination
Reproduction both (a)sexually

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11
Q

What is a bacteriophage?

A

A virus that can infect a bacteria

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12
Q

What is the cell wall of bacteria made of?

A

Peptidoglycan

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13
Q

What are thylakoids and are they found in bacteria?

A

Yes, flattened discs with light sensitive pigment molecules

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14
Q

What is the size of a eukaryote and a prokaryote?

A

E= 2-200µm
P= 0.5- 2µm

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15
Q

What are the size difference between the size of ribosomes in eukaryotes and prokaryotes?

A

P= 70s
E= 80s

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16
Q

What are two different parameters used to measure the growth of bacteria?

A

Measure cell numbers
Measure cell mass

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17
Q

Describe the measurement of cell numbers to determine bacteria growth:

A

-Direct microscopic counts, using counting chambers
-Use electronic counting chambers but not often used for bacteria
-Indirect viable cell count, plate bacteria on culture of a nutrient agar surface and incubate
Form a colony over night, each colony is called an CFU (colony forming unit) and the number of CFUs is related to the viable number of bacteria on sample

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18
Q

Give disadvantages of measuring cell numbers to determine bacteria growth:

A

Microscopic counting- they are very small and can’t be distinguished if they are dead or living
Indirect- Takes some time as need to incubate over night

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19
Q

Describe the measurement of cell mass to determine bacteria growth:

A

-Direct measure physically of dry/ wet weight of after centrifugation
-Direct measure chemically of some chemical components
-Indirect measure of chemical activity e.g rate of O2 production/ consumption
-Turbidity measurements- determine the amount of light scattered by a suspension of cells compare it to a standard via a calibration curve

20
Q

Describe a growth curve for bacteria:

A

Log of viable cells on y axis
Time on x axis
Lag phase- nothing happening, bacteria adjust to surroundings
Exponential- really rapid growth
Stationary- Equilibrium where cells dividing and cells dying
Death- Once nutrients run out, cells dying

21
Q

What is an aerobe tolerant bacteria?

A

Doesn’t need O2 to survive but can tolerate it

22
Q

What is a psychrophile?

A

Low temperatures, -5 and 15ºC

23
Q

What is a mesophile?

A

10- 45ºC

24
Q

What is a not homophile?

A

Most bacteria in this
Survives in salt conditions of 2.5% conc and under

25
Q

Describe how bacteria cells replicate:

A

Binary fission
The DNA replicates, the replicating DNA molecules attached to the plasma membrane, as cell elongates the chromosomes are pulled apart
When cell is twice its original size, plasma membrane grows inward and cell wall forms between two cells

26
Q

What is the difference between binary fission and mitosis?

A

A spindle is not utilised in BF

27
Q

Describe conjugation as a form of genetic recombination in bacteria:

A

A cell with DNA called F (fertility) factor, F+, is able to replicate and transfer a copy of its DNA to another cell without F factor through a tube called a sex pilus
The sex pilus usually breaks off before the entire DNA from the donor cell is transferred
The DNA that is transferred issued to replicate similar genes in the recipient cell

28
Q

State and describe 4 ways in how bacteria can change their genetic information:

A
  1. Transformation- bacterium picks up DNA fragments released by dead bacteria or secreted by live bacteria
  2. Transduction- bacteriophages carry portions of bacteria DNA from one cell to another
  3. Mutation- source of variation
  4. Resistance- against antibiotics can be transferred by transfer of plasmid
29
Q

What are endospores?

A

Method of survival, not reproduction
Endospores are DNA and a portion of cytoplasm encased in a tough cell wall, they are resistant to extremes in temp, drying and harsh chemicals
Spores can endure for hundreds of years

30
Q

What is an auxotroph?

A

Organism that needs lots of different nutrients, specific

31
Q

What is a prototroph?

A

Only needs one organic substance

32
Q

Name a way to differentiate between Gram -ve and Gram +ve bacteria:

A

Dyes

33
Q

What is the difference between Gram -ve and Gram +ve bacteria?

A

Gram -ve, low amount of peptidoglycan, not sensitive against penicillin but sensitive against mechanical pressure
Gram +ve, high amount of peptidoglycan, sensitive against penicillin but not sensitive against mechanical pressure

34
Q

Describe the features of peptidoglycan:

A

A polysaccharide component and peptide component
Polysaccharide consists of alternating N-acetlyglucosamin (NAG) and N- acetylmuramic acid (NAM) monosaccharides
Polysaccharide chain joined by short polypeptide chains
Polypeptides always attached to the NAM

35
Q

What is the periplasmic space in bacteria?

A

Filled with enzymes

36
Q

What does penicillin inhibit in bacteria?

A

The last step of peptidoglycan synthesis, the transpeptidation reaction
Transpeptidation is required to cross link the peptide side chains of the polysaccharide backbone
Penicillin binds to transpeptidase, they enzyme responsible for transpedidation

37
Q

Why is it harder to kill Gram -ve bacteria?

A

Have outermsmbrane which is difficult to pass through
Have periplamsic space where the drug could possibly be hydrolysed so bacteria will survive

38
Q

What are endotoxins and how do they work?

A

Endotoxins from Gram -ve bacteria are most common types of toxic reactions, result in contamination with pyrogens
They are lipopolysaccharides so pyrogenic activity is much higher than other pyrogenic substances

39
Q

What are the physiological effects of pyrogens?

A

Depends on dose and route of admin:
If via the mouth then not as harmful as blood stream
If low dose than asymptomatic inflammatory response
If moderate dose than fever and changes in plasma composition

40
Q

Describe the BP test for pyrogens:

A

Three rabbits at dose no greater than 10ml/kg
Rabbits housed carefully in controlled conditions and temp is monitored rectally before and at 30 mins intervals for 3 hours post admin

41
Q

What are the limitations of the BP test for pyrogens?

A

Pyrogen tolerance
Biological variation
Unsuitable for many drug classes

42
Q

Describe the BP test for bacterial endotoxins:

A

LAL test- based on endotoxin induced coagulation of the blood of the horseshoe crab
Test is based on the observation that the crab blood forms clots when exposed to endotoxins 1000x more sensitive than test for pyrons

43
Q

What are the limitations of the BP test for bacterial endotoxins?

A

Certain chemicals can inhibit the interaction between the LAL sub and endotoxin
Can’t easily be used on viscous products
Only detect endotoxins produced by Gram -ve bacteria

44
Q

What is depyrogenation?

A

Rinsing or diluting with pyrogenic rinsing fluid
For glassware: dry heat sterilisation; 650ºC - 1 min
250ºC - 45 mins
180ºC 4 hours
Removal of pyrogens from water by distillation (more reliable) and reverse osmosis

45
Q

Why is depyrogenation difficult?

A

Pyrogens can often be difficult to remove from solution due to high variability of molecular weight
Also relatively thermally stable and insensitive to pH changes