Chapter 1: Main Themes In Microbiology Flashcards
What is taxonomy?
It groups and names living things
What is classification?
Living things are grouped based on what they have in common
What are the characteristics used to group living things?
How many cells? What type of cells? Eukaryotic or prokaryotic Autotroph or heterotroph? Is it motile or sessile? Does it have a cell wall?
What are the two types of multicellularisn?
True and colonial
What is colonial multicellularism?
Cells share a common boundary but there is no division of labor
What is true multicellularism?
Most share a common boundary and different groups have different jobs to do
What are the two types of cells?
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic
What are eukaryotic cells?
Organelles are contained within a membrane and contains linear DNA that controls the cell. Specific chemical reactions are compartmentalized within a membrane
What are prokaryotic cells?
Some chemical reactions happen within the cells but organelles are not housed within a membrane. Circular DNA with no friends controls the cell. Tend to look empty on the inside because of absence of a normal organelles
What is an autotroph?
Use materials in their environment to make their own food— algae, plants, bacteria etc.
They are the only ones that can make basic molecule units like monosaccharides and also be able to use them
What are heterotrophs?
They cannot make their own food from raw materials. Examples are bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and animals
What does sessile mean?
Adult organisms cannot move from one space to another. They lack motility
What does motile mean?
Adult form can move from one space to another. Possesses motility
What type of cell wall do fungi have?
Cell walls mostly made of chitin but other materials may form the cell walls like glucans
What makes up the cell walls of algae and plants?
Cellulose
What make up the cell walls of bacteria?
Peptidoglycan
What make up the cell walls of Archaea?
Proteins, polysaccharides or molecules other than peptidoglycan. Sometimes lacking a cell wall altogether
What are the four kingdoms of domain eukarya?
Protista, fungi, plants, animals
Describe Protista?
Autotrophs (algae)- Sessile, Cellulose cell wall, some are uni/multicellular
Heterotrophs (Protozoa)- mostly motile, no cell wall, unicellular
Describe fungi?
Heterotrophs, Sessile, Chitin cell wall, yeasts are unicellular, mushrooms mildew and mold are multicellular
Describe plants?
Autotrophs, sessile, cell wall of cellulose, multicellular
Describe animals?
Heterotrophs, mostly motile, no cell wall, multicellular
How are bacteria classified?
Shape and arrangement
What are the three general shapes of bacteria?
Coccus- spherical
Bacillus- rod shaped
Spirilla/spirochete- curved rod or spiraled
What are the arrangements of bacteria?
Single- Random association of bacteria Pairs- two bacteria Chains- Row of bacteria Tetrad- Group of four Cluster- large irregular group
Streptococcus species
Streptococcus mutans- Dental caries
Streptococcus pyogenes- Strep throat/scarlet fever
Streptococcus pneumoniae- Pneumonia
What are the different types of microbes?
Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, viruses, archaea and multicellular animal parasites
What are some of the functions of microbes?
Disease causing Produce oxygen Decompose organic waste Some cause fermentation Some create ethanol, acetone and vitamins
What has knowledge of microorganisms allowed us to do?
Prevent food spoilage
Prevent disease
Understand causes of disease and how they spread
How many bacterial cells are contained in the human body? what is it called?
40 trillion, make up our microbiome
What does our microbiome do?
Helps maintain good health
Prevent pathogens
Help immune system learn to recognize threats
Colonization can only occur in areas of body where bacteria could thrive
When does our normal microbiome begin developing?
At birth and may colonize indefinitely or fleetingly
When did the Human Biome Project begin? What was its purpose?
- Determine what types of bacteria colonize in different areas and to understand the correlation between changes in our microbiome and diseases we acquire.
When was the National Microbiome Initiative begun? Role?
- Studies the role of microbes in various ecosystems
Characteristics of bacteria
Prokaryotes- no nucleus or membrane bound organelles
Single celled
Peptidoglycan cell walls
Divide via binary fission
Get nutrition from chemicals and photosynthesis
May be able to move via flagella
Characteristics of archaea
Prokaryotic Not disease causing May lack cell walls Live in extreme environments Include bacteria that produce methane (methanogens), thrive in saline conditions (halophiles) and thrive at high temps (thermophiles)
Characteristics of fungi
Eukaryotic (has a nucleus w/ DNA) Cell walls made of chitin Absorb organic chemicals for energy *Yeasts are unicellular *Molds/mushrooms are multicellular
Characteristics of protozoa
Eukaryotic
Absorb or ingest organic chemicals
May be able to move via flagella,cilia or pseudopods
Some live on their own while others are parasitic and some are photosynthetic
Reproduce sexually or asexually
Characteristics of algae
Eukaryotic Cell walls composed of cellulose Found in soil, fresh and salt water Use photosynthesis for energy- produce O2 and carbs Sexual/asexual reproduction
Characteristics of viruses
Acellular
Have DNA or RNA at core
Core surrounded by protein coat that may be inside a lipid envelope
Can only replicate when they are in a living host cell
Characteristics of multi-cellular animal parasites
Eukaryotic
Multicellular
Not necessarily microorganisms
Parasitic flatworms and roundworms are called helminths
3 Domains based on cellular organization
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukarya (protists, fungi, plants, animals)
What are antibiotics?
Chemicals produced by bacteria and fungi that stop or kill other harmful microbes
Who discovered the first antibiotics?
Alexander Fleming
What is bacteriology?
Study of bacteria
What is mycology?
Study of fungi
What is parasitology?
Study of protozoa and parasitic worms
What is immunology
Study of immunity
What is virology?
Study of viruses
What is microbial genetics?
Study of how microbes inherit traits
What is molecular biology?
Study of how DNA directs protein synthesis
What is genomics?
Study of organisms genes
What is recombinant RNA? (rRNA)
DNA made from 2 different sources
Ex. Animal & bacterial
What is microbial ecology?
Study of relationship between microorganisms and their environment
Bacteria convert elements into forms that can be used by plants and animals
What is normal microbiota?
Microbes that are regularly found on the human body that prevent the growth of pathogens
What is resistance?
Body’s ability to ward off disease
skin, stomach acid, antimicrobial chemicals
What are biofilms?
Microbes that grow in large groups to cover surfaces like teeth, medical implants, rocks etc.
Can cause infections- usually antibiotic resistant
