BIOL121 Flashcards
Microbiology
The study of organisms too small to be seen clearly by the unaided eye
Eukaryote
An organisms that consists of one or more cells each of which has a nuclear and other well-developed intracellular compartments
Bacteria
Type of biological cells that constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms
Archea
Constitute a group which is between bacteria and eukaryotes
Culture media
Nutrient solutions/solid media that provide all the elements required for growth
Chemically defined media
The exact chemical composition is known
Complex media
exact chemical composition not known made of digests of complex material such as milk protein, beef, soybeans, yeast etc
Batch culutre
Culutre if grown in a ‘closed system’
Viable cells
Cells that are alive but may not be culturable
Culturable Bacteria
Can be grown on media (liquid/solid)
Culturable count
Count cells that can form colonies on solid media or increase turbidity in liquid media
Heterotrophs
Require organic molecules made by other organisms
Autotrophs
CO2 is principal carbon source
Phototrophs
Use light as energy source (to produce ATP)
Chemotrophs
Oxidise organic or inorganic compounds
Psychrophiles
Grow best below 15’c, dont grow above 20’c, can grown below 0’c
Mesophiles
Grow best between 20-40’c, many bacteria in the body are this
Thermophiles
Grow best between 45-80’C, live in hot springs, compost heaps etc
Hyperthermophiles
Grown best above 80’C, live in hot springs
Acidophiles
Grow best in acidic habitats
Alkaliphiles
Grow best in alkaline habitats
Halophiles
Grow in habitats with high salt concentration - sodium chloride
Facultative Aerobe
Not required but grows better with oxygen
Host
Organisms which support growth of viruses, bacteria and parasites
Pathogen
Organisms that causes disease, by impairing or interfering with the normal physiological activities of the host
Pathogenicity
The ability to cause disease
Virulence
The degree or intensity of pathogenicity (determines by toxicity and invasiveness)
Infection
Bacteria persist in host without necessarily causing tissue damage
Disease
Overt damage to the host, parts of body cannot fulfill their normal function
Opportunistic Pathogens
Only cause serious diseasewhen host defences are impaired, eg when moving to a different environment and the body isn’t adapted to the new pathogens
Primary Pathogens
Capable of causeing disease in absence of immune defects, need to cause disease to survive (animal-human or human-human interaction)
Colonisation
Establishment of a stable population of bacteria in the host
Cytotoxic cells
Kill cells infected with bacteria
Antigenic Variation
Bacteria can switch between different types of surface structure
Siderophores
Bind iron with high affinity
Exotoxins
act on specfic targets
Endotoxin
Bound to cell, action is indirect: activated many host systems that cause damage
Tetanus toxin
A neurotoxin, interferes with synapse function
Diphtheria toxin
Inhibits mammalian protein synthesis