Lecture 4 - Bacteria

Question 1

True or False - the membrane of bacteria is a selectively permeable barrier

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False - the bacterial membrane is essentially similar to cell membrane of all other living cells

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is the bacterial membrane composed of?

Answer 3

Phospholipid and protein only - (no sterols or carbohydrates)

Question 4

What is the major component of the bacterial wall?

Answer 4

Peptidoglycan

Question 5

How is the bacterial wall used for classification?

Answer 5

Gram positive, gram negative

Question 6

True or False - the wall of bacteria is semi-rigid; determining shape, and provide mechanical support

Answer 6

True

Question 7

True or False - the bacterial membrane is above the bacterial wall

Answer 7

False - the wall is a dense layer lying ABOVE the plasma membrane

Question 8

List the classifications of bacteria

Answer 8

Spherical (cocci), Rod (bacilli), Spiral (spirochaete, spirilla & vibrio).

Question 9

What are the 7 major nutritional requirements for bacteria?

Answer 9

Carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium.

Question 10

How do bacteria grow?

Answer 10

Asexual reproduction - binary fission

Question 11

Name two advantages of normal flora?

Answer 11

Some species benefit hots, skin bacteria produce fatty acids which discourage other species from invading, gut bacteria release a number of factors with antibacterial activity

Question 12

Name two disadvantages of normal flora?

Answer 12

Overgrowth by potentially pathogenic members can occur, and potential for spread into previous sterile parts of the body (ie. perforated bowel).

Question 13

Two differences between bacteria and viruses?

Answer 13

Viruses are smaller and require living hosts