Intro to Bacteria video questions Flashcards
Dr. Bassler considers humans to be 90-99% bacterial. Why? List two specific criteria she sites to support her answer
List three important functions of the bacteria that live in/on humans
What is bioluminescence?
a light from a signaling pathway on organisms from chemical molecules signaling to each other
Describe in detail the symbiosis between Vibrio fisheri and the Bobtail squid
the vibrio fisheri live in the light organs of the bobtail squid, provides light to be used as camouflage from predators (shadow prevents predation)
the bobtail squid provides safety for the Vibrio fisheri from the environment around them
What is quorum sensing? Describe in detail how it works
a signal that allows bacteria to talk to one another in order to determine population density, allows them to either light up or attack a host
signal binds to a receptor, receptor activates genes within the bacteria to either light up or attack the host
Describe how quorum sensing contributes to virulence in bacteria
remember virulence is the ability to cause damage to the host
bacteria can signal to one another to light up or attack/overwhelm its host
What does Dr. Bassler mean by “bacteria are mutli-lingual?”
they have species specific molecules to interact and also interspecies molecules to communicate with other species
List two ways antibiotics work
either kill bacteria or activate bacteria to either not replicate or not kill the host
Describe how using the concept of quorum sensing could be used as an antibiotic to treat bacterial infections
never enough of bacteria to signal and overwhelm host, so the immune system will be able to fight back
Why is developing alternate ways to treat bacterial infections especially important?
bacteria repeatedly are developing resistance to antibacterial treatments
What is the name of the bacterium discussed in the “Click and Learn” presentation? What is the bacterium discussed from the Ted Talk? What characteristics do these bacteria share?
Vibrio harveyi
both are marine
What mutations were present in Strain A and Strain B of the bacteria?
strain A: no receptors
strain B: not about to send signals
Summarize experiment 1
Strain A experienced no bioluminescence when ran through a culture experiment
Summarize experiment 2
Strain B was laying down the strain to be cultured, and it has no bioluminescence
Summarize experiment 3
Strain A and B are put into culture testing together and strain B creates a bioluminescence, since it can accept signals from strain A
