Bacteriology: The Basics Flashcards
Name 2 reasons that bacteria infections are on the rise
- Advancements in medicine have created large populations of immunocompromised people (elderly, chemotherapy patients, HIV-infected individuals, transplant recipients)
- The increasing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, facilitated by international travel and the misuse of available antibiotics
* Main cause of mortality during human evolution has been infectious disease, up until the 20th century.
How can relationships among Bacteria be surmised?
By comparing 16S rRNA sequences
Name and describe the different shapes of bacteria
- COCCI: spherical, singular is coccus
- BACILLI: Rods (Short bacilli are called coccobacilli). Singular is bacillus
- SPIRAL FORMS: comma shaped, S-shaped, spiral-shaped
- PLEOMORPHIC: lacking a distinct shape
What is Diplococci, Streptococci, Tetrad, Sarcinae, and Staphylococci? Give examples of each
- DIPLOCOCCI:
- two cocci together
- Neisseria sp, Moraxella catarrhalis
- STREPTOCOCCI:
- Chain of cocci
- Streptococci sp
- TETRAD:
- 4 cocci together forming a square
- Micrococcus luteus; soil, skin
- SARCINAE:
- cocci together forming a cube
- Sacina sp; skin, intestines
- STAPHYLOCOCCI:
- Clusters of Cocci
- Staphylococcus aureus
Give examples of single bacillus, Diplobacilli, streptobacilli, Coccobacilus
- SINGLE BACILLUS and DIPLOBACILLI:
- Bacillus sp
- Escherichia sp
- Mycobacterium sp
- Salmonella sp
- Klebsiella sp
- Pseudomonas sp
- Yersinia sp
- Porphyromonas gingivalis
- STREPTOBACILLI:
- Bacillus anthracis
- Bacillus megaterium; ubiquitous in the environment
- COCCOBACILLUS:
- Haemophilus Influlenzae
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough agent)
Give examples of Vibrio, Spirilium, and Spirochetes
- VIBRIO:
- Vibrio Cholerae
- SPIRILIUM
- Spirillum sp; rat bite fever (sudoku) agent
- SPIROCHETE:
- Borellia
- Brachyspira
- Treponemonas
- Leptospira
- Lyme disease, relapsing fever, syphilis, leptospirosis
What are the key unique features of bacteria?
- Usually single, circular chromosome (haploid, no histones)
- May have plasmids
- No internal organelles, no nucleus
- Cell wall components
- 70S ribosomes
- Unique metabolic pathways
- Mode of replication (binary fission)
Why are unique features of bacteria important to our immune system?
They provide the basis for recognition by innate and adaptive immunity and for antibiotic-based therapies
How to Bacteria Replicate?
Binary Fission
What limits Bacterial growth?
- Availability of nutrients from the environment and competition from other bacteria
- If they are in a host they will face other limitations such as immune/ defense systems of the host
Bacteria are often associated with ________
Biofilms
**free swimming bacteria are called planktonic
What makes up Extra cellular matrix in a biofilm?
Polysaccharides, DNA, Proteins
Where can biofilms form?
- In the environment: Legionella Pneumophila forms biofilms within air conditioning towers
- On Medical devices: catheters, valve implants, replacement joints
- On body surfaces: lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, burned tissue, wounds, guns and teeth (dental plaque)
What does it mean for bacteria to be refractory to antibiotic treatment?
Resistant to antibiotics
What is quorum sensing?
- What regulates biofilm
2. system of stimuli and response correlated to population density
What are bacteria with no cell wall called?
Mycoplasma
T/F Once a bacteria is in a biofilm that is where it stays for the duration of its life.
FALSE: bacteria within bioflims can persist for long periods, but can break off to cause systemic or distant infecions
Name basic components of Gram + and Gram - cell walls
GRAM +
-Thick peptidoglycan layer outside the plasma membrane
GRAM -
- Thinner peptidoglycan layer covering plasma membrane
- Existence of a outer membrane
- Existence of periplasmic space
Give 2 examples of acid fast bacteria
- Mycobacteria
2. Nocardia
What is the purpose for bacterial cell walls?
-Maintains cell shape, controls influx and efflux of materials, protects against osmotic lysis