Intro to Bacteriology Flashcards
What is microbiology?
The study of microbes
What are microbes?
- Organisms too small to be seen w/naked eye.
- Bacteria, fungi, & viruses are all microbes.
The study of bacteria, fungi, & viruses is called what?
Bacteriology, Mycology (study of fungi), & Virology
Family
Related genera
Genus
Related species
Species
Related strains
Type
Sub-set of species
Strain
One single isolated or line (Ex: E. coli, COVID)
T/F: 70% of all bacteria are non-pathogenic
True!
Non-pathogenic bacteria are… (3)
- Helpful or harmless!
- Non disease producing
- May live on surface of skin
What are ways are non-pathogenic bacteria helpful? (5)
- Cause decay of refuse
- Improve soil fertility
- Metabolize food
- Protect vs microorganisms
- Stimulate immune response
Pathogenic bacteria do & are what? (5)
- Spread easily
- Cause infection & disease
- Live everywhere
- Distinct shapes
- Some produce toxins (botulism)
What bacteria specific requirements should you keep in mind when collecting a sample? (5)
- Temp
- Distinct shapes
- Some produce toxins
- Spread easily
- Live everywhere
Prokaryotic cells
“Pro” Before
“Karyon” Nut or kernel
- No nucleus
- Do have cell walls, plasma membranes, & ribosomes
Aerobes
Require oxygen
Anaerobes
Require no oxygen
Bacteria
Temperature requirements
Nearly all bacteria that are pathogenic to animals grow best at what degree Celsius?
Body temp! 20 to 40 C
What are the methods (or criteria) to characterize bacteria? (4)
- Size
- Shape
- Arrangement
- Chemical reactivity & staining characteristics
Circular, spherical shaped bacteria
Coccus, Cocci
Rods or cylinder shaped bacteria
Bacillus, Bacilli
Loose, tight, comma shaped bacteria
Spirals
Multiple shapes ranging from cocci to rods
Pleomorphic
What arrangements can bacteria come in? (5)
- Single
- Pairs
- Tetrads (Clusters or bunches)
- Chains
- Palisades (Chinese letter pattern)
Should you refrigerate your sample?
No! Keep at room temp
Factitious meaning to bacteria
Fussy, may not grow easily
Transport media (3)
- Designed to keep microbes alive.
- Do not encourage growth & reproduction.
- General nutrient agar for most bacteria types.
General purpose media (2)
- Sometimes referred to as nutrient media.
- Not commonly used in ved med.
Enriched media
Hint: The rich are high maintenance
- Meet needs of fastidious pathogens.
- Basic nutrient media w/extra nutrients added
What are two types of enriched media?
What nutrients are added into the media?
- Blood & chocolate agar
- Blood, serum, egg
Selective media
Encourages growth of a specific bacterial type.
- MacConkey agar
Differential media
Helps identify specific species activity or color change
Enrichment media
Hint: this is liquid
- Extra nutrients are added to help certain fastidious bacteria.
- OR - - May contain inhibitory sub suppress competitors
