Mesnage - Bacterial Growth Flashcards
name 5 requirements for bacterial growth
temp, pH, osmotic pressure, nutrients and oxygen
what happens in bacteria when the temperature is too high, too low and at the optimum?
high: denaturation and collaps of cytoplasmic mem, thermal lysis (breaking of Van der Waals)
low: membrane gelling therefore transport so slow = no growth
optimum: maximum growth rate
name 4 groups of organisms based on their optimum temperature
psychrophile
mesophile
thermophile
extreme thermophile
how have psychrophiles adapted to cold temperatures?
increased membrane fluidity by increasing (poly)unsat fat content & methyl branched f/a's and decreasing acyl chain length antifreeze proteins (bind to ice crystals) cryprotectants eg trehalose and exopolysaccharides cold-adapted enzymes; increased no of helices, decreasing weak bonds and interdomain reactions (=flexibility)
how have thermophiles adapted to hot temperatures?
- genome protection: DNA binding proteins (stability), supercoils by DNA gyrases, increase of G&C bases (3 H-bonds)
- modification of mem composition: ether linked phospholipids and single lipid layer of glycerol tetraethers)
- thermostable proteins: h.phobic interactions and more ionic bonds
- thermostable chaperones eg thermosome in Pyrodictium abyssi
how do microbes adapt their metabolism to extremes of pH?
in high pH use Na+ for metabolism/coupling/flagella movement
in low pH use H+ for metabolism/coupling/flagella movement
why are some gram (+) bacteria more resistant to high salt levels?
thick peptidoglycan cell wall
how do microbes respond to osmotic stress?
regulation of H2O by passive diffusion and aquaporins. production of compatible solutes by mechanosensitive channels
halophiles require salt to function, how are these salt ions used?
stabilisation of S-layer glycoprotein by Na+
accumulation of K+ as a compatible source
which enzyme combination converts H2O2 to H2O?
catalase and peroxidase
which enzyme combinations convert O2- to H2O2 to H2O?
superoxidase dismutase + catalase
superoxidase reductase + catalase
name 3 toxic forms of oxygen
superoxide (O2-) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) hydroxyl radical (OH•)
name the 5 types of MO based on whether they use O2 for respiration or not. also say which enzymes they use for respiration
obligate anaerobes: catalase + SOD obligate aerobes facultative aerobes: catalase + SOD microaerophiles anaerobes aerotolerant: SOD
name 3 methods of directly measuring bacterial growth
flow cytometry
visable counting
microscopic counts
name 3 methods of indirectly measuring bacterial growth
OD
dry weight
metabolic activity
list the limitations of using OD for measuring bacterial growth
need high cell density (>10^7 cells/ml)
can’t tell the difference between dead/live cells
OD values differ on organism type
does work on moulds/filamentous bacteria
name and describe the 4 stages of bac growth
lag: metabolism starts but no division
log: exponential increase in population
stationary: microbial death = microbial production
death: population is declining
name the 3 physical methods of antimicrobial control
heat
irradiation
filtration
define thermal death point
minimum temp at which organisms are killed in 10 min in a particular solution