L1- Introduction

Question 1

What are the main concerns about viruses?

Answer 1

1. Potential for rapid spread
2. Potential for high fatality rate/ a lack of treatment options
3. Significant problem if traits combine. Localised severe infection leads to worldwide spread potential

Question 2

What are the general features of an enveloped virus?

Answer 2

• Nucleic acid
• Capsid- protein shell
Make up the nucelocapsid

Question 3

What are the main pathogens?

Answer 3

• Bacteria- prokaryote
• Viruses- not alive
• Fungi, parasites- eukaryotes

Question 4

What are gram positive and gram negative bacteria?

Answer 4

• Gram positive- no outer membrane e.g staph aureus

* Gram negative- inner and outer membrane e.g E. coli

Question 5

What are spores?

Answer 5

Produced by certain bacterial species as resting stages for bacterial cells
Desporulation is when normal cells grow out of spores
Spores can remain dormant for years and are hard to destroy
e.g C. dificile

Question 6

What are the outcomes of the gram stain?

Answer 6

• Gram positive- PURPLE

* Gram negative- PINK

Question 7

What are sources of infecting microorganisms?

Answer 7

• Endogenous infections- microbes already present on/in the body that are now causing an infection
• Exogenous infection- infecting microbes coming from an external source e.g from environment or human

Question 8

What are the reasons for high bacterial abundance?

Answer 8

• Rapid growth

* Different species have diverse physiologies- can grow in many different conditions