Intro to Microbiology

Question 1

4 Main Categories of microorganisms

Answer 1

bacteria
fungi
protists + helminths
viruses

Question 2

Field of Microbiology

Answer 2

field encompassing the study of microorganisms and viruses

Question 3

X-linked severe combined immunideficiency syndrome (SCID) or “Bubble boy disease”

Answer 3

-X-SCID- a mutation in a single gene disables the body’s ability to fight infection
-individuals with disease die at early age due to severe infection
David Vetter lives in germ free container

Question 4

Bacteria

Answer 4

single celled, small, relatively simple
adopt a variety of shapes depending on the species (Cocci: spheres, Bacilli: cylendars , Spirochete: snakes)
No nucleus, ER, or membrane bound organelles

Question 5

The layers of Bacteria

Answer 5

Cytoplasm
Plasma membrane: surface used for respiration
Cell Wall: prevents lysis when water is absorbed
Capsule: Slimy layer of Carbohydrate that protects the bacterium from the immune system

Question 6

Fungi

Answer 6

Simple eukaryotes that gain energy by digesting and absorbing plant or animal matter
tough cell wall

Question 7

Hyphal fungi

Answer 7

cells grow in groups of long chains called mycelium (molds,shroooooms)

Question 8

Yeasts

Answer 8

cells grow as round or oblong sheres

Question 9

Parasites

Answer 9

disease causing protists and helminths

Question 10

Protists

Answer 10

single celled
eukaryotes
elaborate apparatuses used for locomotion (flagella, cillia, undulating membrane)
many have an intricate complex life cycle involving several hosts
most include an insect vector that spreads the disease

Question 11

Helminths

Answer 11

Multicellular
Eukaryotic
most have a complex life cycle that humans are only a small part of
most require poor sanitation and impoverish living conditions
rare in wealthy regions of the world

Question 12

Viruses

Answer 12

obligate intracellular parasites

not considered living (not cells)- depend on host for replication

Question 13

Structure of Viruses

Answer 13

Surface glycoprotein (spike protein)
Envelope: lipid bilayer membrane
Protein coat (capsid): surrounds and protects genome
Nucleic Acid (genome)

Question 14

Viral replication cycle

Answer 14

1. Attachment of host cell via surface glycoprotein
2. fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell plasma membrane and release of viral nucleic acid into host cell cytoplasm
3. replication of viral nucleic acid
4. expression of viral proteins
5. assembly of new viral particles at the plasma membrane
6. release of progeny virus from the infected cell