Microbes & flora

Question 1

What are the 5 microbial classes?

Answer 1

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Parasites
• Prions

Question 2

What are the differences between viruses & bacteria?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What does the cell wall of fungi contain?

Answer 3

Chitin

Question 4

What are the differences between protozoa & metazoa parasites?

Answer 4

Protozoa - single celled e.g. amoeba

Metazoa - multi-celled e.g. anthrapods, worms

Question 5

What are prions?

Answer 5

Protein infectious particles

Question 6

What is colonisation?

Answer 6

Presence of commensal or opportunistically pathogenic organisms not causing harm

Question 7

What is infection?

Answer 7

Situation in which a microbe is established and growing in a host, whether or not the host is harmed

Question 8

What are pathogens?

Answer 8

micro-organisms that can cause disease

Question 9

What are the key features of the structure of bacteria?

Answer 9

Capsule, flagella, pili, cell wall, plasmids