Lecture 1: Introduction to Microbiology

Question 1

Taxonomy

Answer 1

Kingdom-> Phylum-> Class-> Order-> Family -> Genus -> Species

Question 2

Bacterial classification

Answer 2

Family, Genus, Species

Question 3

Fungal classification

Answer 3

Class, Genus, Species

Question 4

Viral classification

Answer 4

Order: -virales 
Family: -viridae 
Subfamily: -virinae
Genus: -virus 
Species: individual virus

Question 5

Flora

Answer 5

• normal microbiota
• any microbe present that is not causing disease
• can exist in commensalism or mutualism with host

Question 6

Virulence factors

Answer 6

• give microbe the ability to cause disease
• make the microbe PATHOGENIC
• predominantly encoded by/associated with mobile genetic elements [phages, plasmids, insertion sequences (transposons)]
• large proportion located within pathogenicity islands (PAIs)

Question 7

Factors influencing pathogenesis

in the host and pathogen

Answer 7

1. Tissue tropism (does the organism have a requirement for a certain type of tissue, for entry/invasion?)
2. Host immune reaction
3. Secondary site of replication (mainly for viruses)

Question 8

Infection

Answer 8

• microbe must complete most/all of steps of pathogenesis

- microbe must multiply within the host

Question 9

Intoxication

Answer 9

• damage caused by a toxin released by pathogen

- no multiplication of microbe within the host