Microbes Flashcards
Define “Disinfection”
Disinfection is the destruction or removal of vegetative cells but NOT spores.
Define “Sterilisation”
Sterilisation is the complete destruction of all viable cells.
Define “Antiseptic”
Antiseptics are any chemicals applied to the body to be bactericidal or bacteriostatic.
What are the standard conditions inside an autoclave?
121 degrees Celsius at 15Psi
This is referred to as wet heat
Define “Sanitation”
Sanitation is reducing microbial load of an object but not all microbes will be removed only enough for it to be considered safe.
What is “antisepsis”
Antisepsis is using predatory bacteria or a virus to remove a target population of microbes.
Sepsis meaning local infection.
What are anabolic pathways, give an example.
Anabolic pathways are the chemical pathways the body uses to synthesise molecules for biomass or energy.
An example is the synthesis of glycogen from glucose units.
What is a catabolic pathway? Give an example.
A catabolic pathway is a chemical pathway used by the body to breakdown matter for components or energy.
An example is the conversion of glucose to pyruvate to give ATP.
Define “Exergonic and Endogonic”
Exergonic: Reaction where over all energy is released spontaneously, negative delta G.
Endogonic: Reactions where over all energy is used, non-spontaneous reaction, delta G positive.
What are dissimilative reductions used for and why?
Dissimilative reductions are use to generate energy because the difference in standard reducing potential is greater leading to greater energy generation.
What are assimilative reductions used for and why?
Assimilative reductions are used to acquire essential components from the surroundings eg:C,N,Pi
This is because during the reaction they assimilate the reactants so want to keep them in a state that is safe to be in the cell.
What are the three forms of energy conservation for and what are they?
They are for converting external energy sources as efficiently as possible to biomolecules or easily useable energy sources.
The three forms are
Oxidative phosphorylation: The oxidation of substraits to generate ATP
Substrait-level phosphorylation: The removal and direct transfer of a PO3- group from substraits to ADP
Electron Bifurcation: The coupling of exergonic reactions to endogonic reactions to limit energy loss.
What is the net yield from fermentation?
1-2 ATP and one NAD+
If there is no O2 available what do microbes use for a terminal E- acceptor?
Anaerobes use NO3- nitrate as their terminal E- acceptor.
If there is no terminal E- acceptor then no oxidative phosphorylation can occur.
Phototrophy can be oxygenic or anoxygenic which occures where?
Bacteriochlorophylls are purple/green bacteria and do anoxygenic phototrophy.
Chlorophylls are cyanobacteria that do oxygenic phototrophy.
