Intro To Microbiology Flashcards
What is microbiology?
The study of life organism that cannot be seen with the naked eye and require a microscope to be visualized
What are the earliest known infections?
- 3180 BC pestilence (plague)
- 1900 BC bubonic plague ( Yersinia pestis)
- 1500 BC smallpox Variola
Give a brief description of the mechanism of an infectious disease with an example
- Pathogen colonizes the body
- The pathogen causes a disease
- e.g. TB Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Briefly describe microbial intoxication with an example
- Pathogen produces a toxin in vitro(in food)
- A person ingests the toxin
- toxin causes the disease
- Example Staphyloccocus aureus food poisoning
Describe decomposers or Saprophytes
- Lives on dead or decaying organic matter
- Some of these can be used recycle wastes or clean contaminated areas…Bioremediation
What is microbial ecology?
- The role microbes play in recycling organic material and their role in elemental cycles (nitrogen cycle)
- the role of plankton in our ocean and water environments
Describe the role of plankton in the ocean and water environments
Food chain and oxygen production:
- Phytoplankton: small marine plants and algae
- Zooplankton: small marine animals
What field in microbiology studies fungi(moulds, yeasts)?
Mycology
What field in microbiology studies Algae/seaweeds ?
Phycology/algology
What cell type is fungi?
Eukaryotes
What cell type are parasites?
Eukaryotes
What cell types are Algae?
Eukaryotes
What cell types are viruses and bacteriophages?
Not cells
What cell type is bacteria ?
Prokaryotes
What cell type Archea?
Prokaryotes