Chapter 1 - The Microbial World and You Flashcards
What is bacteriology?
The branch and specialty of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species.
What is mycology?
The branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, food, and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as toxicity or infection.
What is parasitology?
The study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life.
What is immunology?
The branch of biology that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms.
What is virology?
The study of viruses – submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat – and virus-like agents.
What are the differences between microbial genetics and molecular biology?
Microbial genetics studies the mechanisms by which microorganisms inherit traits, while molegular biology looks at how genetic information is carried in molecules of DNA and how DNA directs the synthesis of proteins.
What is microbial ecology?
The ecology of microorganisms: their relationship with one another and with their environment. It concerns the three major domains of life—Eukaryota, Archaea, and Bacteria—as well as viruses.
What is bioremediation?
A process used to treat contaminated media, including water, soil and subsurface material, by altering environmental conditions to stimulate growth of microorganisms and degrade the target pollutants.
What is recominant DNA?
Recombinant DNA molecules are DNA molecules formed by laboratory methods of genetic recombination to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be found in the genome.
What is gene therapy?
The therapeutic delivery of nucleic acid into a patient’s cells as a drug to treat disease. Gene therapy has been used to treat ADA deficiency, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and LDL-receptor deficiency.
What is a microbiota?
An “ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms” found in and on all multicellular organisms studied to date from plants to animals. A microbiota includes bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi and viruses.
What is a biofilm?
Any group of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular polymeric substances.
What is an emerging infectious disease?
An infectious disease whose incidence has increased in the past 20 years and could increase in the near future. Emerging infections account for at least 12% of all human pathogens.
What are the causes of an emerging infectious disease?
Newly identified species or strains (e.g. Severe acute respiratory syndrome, HIV/AIDS) that may have evolved from a known infection (e.g. influenza) or spread to a new population (e.g. West Nile fever) or to an area undergoing ecologic transformation (e.g. Lyme disease), or be reemerging infections, like drug resistant tuberculosis.
Why are biofilms important?
They form a protective lining to deter pathogens and parasitic microbes, provide a food source for aquatic organisms, and share nutrients between the composing bacteria.
