Chapter 1 - The Microbial World and You Flashcards by Maeryn O

Microorganisms (aka microbes)

-minute living things that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
-includes bacteria, fungi (yeasts and molds), protozoa, algae, viruses

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Micro

“very small”

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Organism

“living thing”

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Photosynthesis

-some microbes play a role in this and contribute to oxygen generation

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Nomenclature

-many of the names of microorganisms are latinized
-microorganism name consists of two words with the first word always capitalized
-these names are universal
-both names are underlined or italicized
-abbreviated versions (after being mentioned once) has initial of genus followed by specific epithet ie. E. coli

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Genus name

-the first name
-always capitalized

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Specific epithet

-second name
-always lower case

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(M)icro

Microscopic

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m(I)cro

Independent units

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mi(C)ro

Complex (less complex than humans)

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mic(R)o

Rapid growth

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micr(O)

Omnipresent (common/widespread)

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Why do we learn about microorganisms?

-to prevent disease occurrence
-develop aseptic techniques to prevent spread of disease
-to prevent food spoilage

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Kingdoms

-microorganisms are divided into two kingdoms: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

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Prokaryote

-lack a nucleus and other organelles
-have one circular chromosome of DNA (a free floating Nucleoid)
-have only ribosomes (smaller than in humans)
-have a complex cell wall made of peptidoglycan
-cell divides via Binary Fission

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Binary Fission

-a type of asexual reproduction that involves the separation of the parent cell into two daughter cells

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Eubacteria

-simple, unicellular organisms
-are prokaryotes
-appear in Bacillus, coccus, and spiral shapes
-many can swim using flagella
-are usually disease causing
-have quorum sensing ability

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Quorum Sensing

-the regulation of gene expression in response to fluctuations in cell-population density

Archaea Bacteria

-prokaryotic bacteria
-if they have cell walls, the wall does not contain peptidoglycan instead it has pseudopeptidogylcan
-not known to cause disease in humans
-live in extreme environments

Eukaryote

-have a true nucleus
-DNA consists of several chromosomes surrounded by nuclear membrane
-contains several organelles such as RER, SER, ribosomes, etc.
-don’t have a cell wall
-somatic cells go through mitosis
-gametes undergo meiosis

Fungi

-eukaryotes
-may be unicellular (yeast/mold) or multicellular (mushrooms)
-don’t carry out photosynthesis
-cell wall composed of chitin
-reproduce sexually or asexually

Protozoa

-unicellular eukaryotic microbes
-move via pseudopods, flagella, or cilia
-live as free entities or parasites
-some photosynthesize ie. Euglena
-reproduce sexually or asexually

Algae

-photosynthetic
-eukaryotic
-reproduce sexually and asexually
-cell walls are made of cellulose
-usually unicellular

Parasites

-eukaryotic
-animal parasites

Humans

-are eukaryotic

Viruses

-acellular (are not cells) -neither prokaryote or eukaryote -need electron microscope to see -reproduce using cell machinery of other organisms -only considered living when they multiply within host cells they infect -ie. HIV, Measles, Herpes, Hepatits, Covid-19, Influenza

Covid-19

-continues to mutate (ie. delta, omicron, 3N1) -coronavirus -has spikes -a mutation of SARS-CoV2 -MERS-CoV2 is transmitted between animals and people

Pandemic

-widespread occurrence of a disease over the whole world or a country at a particular time

Epidemic

Widespread disease within a community at a particular time

Cell Theory

-developed by Robert Hooke (1665) -all living things are composed of cells

Spontaneous Generation

-the belief that life can arise spontaneously form non-living matter

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

-disproved Spontaneous Generation in 1861 -proved Biogenesis -looked at food spoilage (beer/wine)

Biogenesis

-Pasteur demonstrated that microbes are present in the air and can contaminate sterile solutions but air doesn't create microbes

Pasteurs Biogenesis Expiriement

1) Open flask: found microbes entered the open flask 2) Closed flask: found microbes did not enter the flask 3) S-neck flask: found microbes couldn't enter the contents, even though air could get it, the curved neck trapped microorganisms

Aseptic Techniques

-formed from the foundation of Biogenesis -procedures that prevent contamination of unwanted microorganisms

Fermentation

-many scientists believed air converted sugars into alcohol in the absence of air -Pasteur found that instead yeasts converted the sugars into alcohol in the absence of air

Souring and Spoilage

-caused by bacteria which is then converts sugar into alcohol and then eventually acetic acid (vinegar)

Pasteurization

-Pasteurs solution to food spoilage -applying just enough heat to kill the bacteria that caused the spoilage

Robert Koch (1843-1910)

-established steps to link a specific microbe to a specific disease (Germ Theory of Disease) -discovered Bacillus anthracis caused Anthrax

Anthrax

-a biological weapon (used on 9/11) that causes death

Koch's Postulates

-experimental steps to prove that a specific microbe causes a specific disease

Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

-found a way to protect people from small pox -used fluid from a small pox blister and injected it into his son -found his son was protected from small pox

Immunity

protection from disease via vaccination

Immunization

-Pasteur came across Jenner's work and called it immunization -the term vaccination was derived from vaca which means "cow"