Introduction to Bacteria Flashcards
How are bacteria identified with staining characteristics?
Positive and negative gram staining
How can bacteria be identified using their shape?
Cocci and bacilli
What shape are cocci?
Spherical
What shape are bacilli?
Rod shaped
What are the 5 main structures of a typical bacterial cell wall?
- Penicillin binding proteins
- Peptidoglycans
- Lipopolysaccharide
- Flagellum
- Fimbriae
What do penicillin binding proteins do?
Synthesise peptidoglycan
What is the function of peptidoglycans in the cell?
- Strength and shape
What is an example of a lipopolysaccharide in the gram negative bacterial cell wall?
Endotoxin
What is the function of the flagellum?
Motility
What is the function of the fimbriae?
Adherence
How are bacteria classified and named?
- Based on genus of the species
- Strains have similar characteristics but are different
How are strains identified?
Typing
What are the 4 components of gram negative cell walls
- Plasma membrane
- Periplasmic space
- Peptidoglycan
- Outer membrane
What two bacterium have a flagella?
- E. Coli
- Salmonella
What bacteria have fimbriae?
Strep
What bacteria can form spores?
Gram negative
What are spores supposed to improve?
Survivability
What is the ruling circle mechanism?
Horizontal gene transfer
What is the process of the ruling circle mechanism?
- Plasmid DNA copied onto a single strand in F+ cell (cell with resistance)
- Single strand then transferred to F- cell
- F- cell creates a complimentary strand to it and creates a plasmid
How do bacteria replicate?
Binary fission
What does the prefix “staphyl” mean?
Colony forming
What does “strepto” mean?
Chain forming
What does “acineto” mean?
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