Introduction to microorganisms Flashcards
State the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
Prokaryote organisms don’t have a nucleus and their DNA is not enclosed within a membrane, they are in once continuous loop. Eukaryotic microorganisms divide by mitosis which is more complex than binary fission that prokaryotic cells divide by
Beneficial bacteria…..
Assist with various body processes and/or crowd out and prevent infection by harmful bacteria
Opportunistic bacteria…
often effect damaged tissue and is potentially harmful and can cause disease under certain conditions
Capsule function
aids in attachment to surfaces + protects pathogenic bacteria
cell wall structure/function
composed of peptidyglocan + offers protection and maintains shape
cell membrane structure/function
selectively permeable, allowing only some molecules to pass through
cytoplasm structure/function
80% water, substance of cell inside membrane
Ribosome structure/function
protein synthesis, found in random groupings
Pilli
Helps cells attach to surfaces and transfers genetic information
flagellum
helps move towards or away from favourable environment
endospore
specialised resting cells, very resistant to heating + drying. Do not reproduce
Main characteristics of fungi
Eukaryote cells include moulds and yeasts. They are classified by how they reproduce, different fungi reproduce in different ways. Budding is one way with spores or hyphae extension
superficial fungal infection
occurs on the outer parts of the body eg, athletes foot or ringworm
Systemic fungal infection
Affects tissues and organs deep within the body eg. lungs
Opportunistic fungal infection
caused by fungi that are normally harmless eg. vaginal or oral thrush caused by Candida albicans
List the main distinguishing characteristics of protozoa, including how they move
Eukaryote cells
Most are unicellular free living organisms
Usually found in soil or water, although some can be parasitic and live on/in humans and animals
Ingest food and digest it within the cell
move in locomotion
What are the four modes of locomotion?
Flagella
Cilia
Beudopodia
Non-motile
Name some protozoan diseases that occur in humans
Plasmodium SPP causes malaria
Giardia intestinal cause giardiasis
toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis
describe the structure of a virus
single type of nucleic acid - either RNA or DNA
Protein coat surround the nucleic acid
Protein spikes on envelope aid in attachment and entry to host cells
Host cell specific - can only infect specific cells of one particular species
Outline the steps in virus replication
Attachment
Entry
Replication
Assembly
Release
