LCB1 Flashcards
Why is microbiology important in veterinary medicine?
- Understand disease.
- Recognise emerging diseases
- Improve the control of known infections to improve prevention and to reduce spread
What are the different groups of microorganisms in order of size (largest to smallest)?
Fungi (5micrometers), bacteria (1-5 micrometers), virus and prions (300 to 20 nanometers)
What are the basic structural properties of bacteria?
Cell membrane, capsule, cell wall, single haploid chromosome (circular), ribosomes and plasmid
Describe the bacterial genome
Consists of a haploid circular chromosome which contains essential and core genes (which define bacteria) and contains plasmid (small circular independent DNA)
- plasmid not present in all bacteria
- plasmid contains partitions genes involved in cell division
What is a nucleoid?
DNA in the chromosome organised into a protein complex
No nucleus - DNA packed closely by supercoiling using DNA gyrase
What are the function of histones?
Further pack the DNA into protein complexes
What type of ribosomes are present in eukaryotes?
- Larger ribosomes
- 80s
- 40% rRNA 60% protein
What type of ribosomes are present in prokaryotes?
- Smaller ribosomes
- 70s
- 60%rRNA 40%protein
What are the different groups of bacteria?
Gram negative, gram positive, acid fast and mycoplasmas
What are the structural features of gram negative bacteria?
Lipopolysacharides, double membrane, thinner capsule, lipoproteins, thinner peptidyglyocan layer
What are the structural features of gram positive bacteria?
Thicker capsule, thicker peptidyglyocan layer, single membrane
What are the structural features of acid fast bacteria?
Mycolic acids, D-galactose in cell wall, phylogenetically related to gram positive
Resist decolourization by acid-alcohol so remain and stained red the colour of the first stain in acid fast staining (carbol fuchsin).
Describe the gram stain
1) Crystal violet (dye-purple)
2) Iodine (mordant)
3) Alcohol (decolourisation)
4) Safranin (counterstain)
Describe the acid fast stain
1) Ziehl Neelsen carbofuchsin added to fusion slide and apply with heat
2) Acid alcohol added and washed with water
3) Counter stain added (methylene blue) and washed with water
Acid fast bacteria retain red colour, other blue
Describe some bacterial differences within different bacteria
- LPS outer memrane of gram negative bacteria
- capsules- protection against dessication, adherences and interefere with phagocytosis
- flagella: used for motility
- pili/fimbrae: adhesion function
- endospores
What are the modes of motility in flagella
RUNS-straight lines
TWIDDLES- move on spot to rotate
What are endospores?
Highly resistant bodies produced by bacteria which survive adverse conditions
How are endospores developed?
1) Vegetative cell trigger to form spore in mother –> assymetric division and spore forms on one side
2) developing of spore coat –> synthesis of dipicolonic acid and accumulation of Ca2+
3) release of endospore due to cell lysis of mother
4) triggered to germinate by activation of heat, excretion of Ca2+
What are the 4 classes of lipids?
Fatty acids, triglycerides, phospo and sphingolipids, steroids
Which fatty acid has one or more carbon to carbon double bonds
Unsaturated fatty acids
Describe the structure of different fatty acids
Triaglycerol- glycerol and 3 fatty acids
Glycophospholipids- glycerol, 2 fatty acids, phosphate and polar head group
Sphingolipids- 2 sphingospine, fatty acid, phosphate, polar head group
Glycolipids- 2 sphingosine, fatty acid, monosaccharides
Give examples of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups
Hydrophillic- phosphate, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen
hydrophobic tail- fatty acid tail
What are the functions of cell membranes
Protection, stability, adherence,
What is sphingomyelin lipidosis
Definciency of sphingomyelinase –> accumulation of sphingomyelin –> lysosmal catabolism
What is the role of cholesterol?
Moderator of membrane fluidity.
Makes structure more rigid.
Interacts and immobilises ends of phospholipid hydrocarbon chains.
Prevents crystillisation (phospholipids coming together)
What is the function of an ABC transporter?
Defense mechanism against harmful substances.
ATP binding casssette via active transport.
Composed of P-glycoprotein.
Why do you need to be careful when administrating antibiotics to border collies?
Border collies have a deletion mutation with MDR1 gene (frame shift mutation) resulting in a premature stop codon in MDR1 which results in a non functional P-glycoprotein.
What are lipid rafts and what are their functions?
Formed by interaction of lipids
Control membrane composition
External side= receptors Cytoslic side= intracellular signalling
Explain the Fluid Mosaic model
The fluid part represents the fluidity of the phospholipid bilayer composed of the hydrophobic tail.
The mosaic part represents the patchwork of proteins in the phospholipid bilayer.
The phospholipids move about more rapidly than larger proteins
What is the function of the fluid mosaic model?
It is a barrier.
Allows flexible change in shape/membrane composition
Explain the steps in bleaching
1) Membrane protein of interest is flourescently labelled
2) Laser beam bleaches specific area
3) Flourescent intensity develops as bleached molecules move away
What is Chromatin?
Linear DNA and proteins (histones) arranged in the chromosome
What are nucleosomes?
Building blocks of chromatin.
Composed of 8 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes separated from each one by linker DNA
Describe the organisation of DNA
DNA is organised into chromosomes. Within a chromosome you have chromatin which is made up of nucleosomes and histone proteins.
Describe differences between prokaryotic DNA and eukaryotic DNA
Prokaryotic DNA is organised into a haploid chromosome, and can sometimes be organised into a plasmid.
Eukaryotic DNA is organised into a diploid/homologous chromosomes.
Describe DNA replication in prokaryotes
1) Double stranded DNA separated into parental (template) strand and daughter (new) strand
2) Replication occurs at replication fork
3) 2 daughter cell /DNA molecules form