Microbes & flora Flashcards
What are the 5 microbial classes?
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Parasites
- Prions
What are the differences between viruses & bacteria?
Viruses - no ribosomes, DNA or RNA, seen by EM, 10-100s of genes, can infect bacteria
Bacteria - ribosomes, DNA + RNA, seen by light microscope, 100-1000s of genes
What does the cell wall of fungi contain?
Chitin
What are the differences between protozoa & metazoa parasites?
Protozoa - single celled e.g. amoeba
Metazoa - multi-celled e.g. anthrapods, worms
What are prions?
Protein infectious particles
What is colonisation?
Presence of commensal or opportunistically pathogenic organisms not causing harm
What is infection?
Situation in which a microbe is established and growing in a host, whether or not the host is harmed
What are pathogens?
micro-organisms that can cause disease
What are the key features of the structure of bacteria?
Capsule, flagella, pili, cell wall, plasmids