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Special Topics (Last 2 PPTs) > Microbial Ecology > Flashcards

Microbial Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

is the study of
microorganisms in their natural environments, focusing on their _________ with each other and their
surroundings.

A

Microbial ecology; interactons

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2
Q

It encompasses various aspects, including microbial diversity, nutrient
cycling, symbiosis, and ecosystem stability.

A

Microbial ecology

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3
Q

Microbial Diversity is composed of? (5)

A

Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Viruses, and Protists

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4
Q

Classification of microbial diversity is based on _________, _________, and _________.

A

morphology, metabolism, and genetic traits

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5
Q

What are the microbial habitats? (4)

A

Terrestrial ecosystems, Aquatic ecosystems, Extreme environments, and Human microbiome

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6
Q

Examples of terrestrial ecosystems are? (2)

A

Soil microbiomes, rhizosphere interactions

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7
Q

Examples of Aquatic ecosystems are? (2)

A

Freshwater and marine microbial communities

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8
Q

Examples ofExtreme environments are? (4)

A

Thermophiles, halophiles, acidophiles, and psychrophiles

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9
Q

These are extremophilic organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in low temperatures, ranging from −20 °C to 20 °C.

A

Psychrophiles

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10
Q

Two microbial Interactions (?)

A

Symbiotic relationships; competition and cooperation

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11
Q

Examples of Symbiotic relationships (3)

A

Mutualism , Commensalism & Parasitism

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12
Q

Examples of Competition and Cooperation interactions (3)

A

Resource competition, biofilm formation, & quorum sensing

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13
Q

It is a cell-to-cell communication system where bacteria release signaling molecules (autoinducers) to sense their population density and coordinate their behavior, such as biofilm formation or virulence.

A

Quorum sensing

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14
Q

Microbial Metabolism and Nutrient Cycling (4)

A

– Carbon Cycle
– Nitrogen Cycle
– Sulfur Cycle
– Phosphorus Cycle

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15
Q

Methods used to Study Microbial Ecology (4)

A
  1. Microbial Culture
  2. Molecular and Genomic Approaches
  3. Microscopy and
    Imaging Techniques
  4. Stable Isotope
    Probing
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16
Q

Examples of Microbial Culture (2)

A

Enrichment and selective media

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17
Q

Is used to isolate a specific type of microorganism from a mixed population by inhibiting the growth of others.

A

Selective media

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18
Q

Is used to increase the population density of a specific microorganism within a mixed population by providing favorable conditions for its growth while suppressing competitors.

A

Enrichment media

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19
Q

Anaerobic
culturing is for?

A

oxygen-sensitive microbes

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20
Q

Anaerobic jar is for?

A

Cultivation of anaerobic
bacteria

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21
Q

The anaerobic jar contains envelopes of ______, _______, and an _______.

A

sodium bicarbonate; sodium borohydride; and Anaerobic indicator (methylene blue)

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22
Q

Used for dentifying microbial diversity

A

16S rRNA sequencing

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23
Q

Used for analyzing microbial communities
without culturing

A

Metagenomics

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24
Q

used for understanding gene expression in microbial

A

Transcriptomics and proteomics

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25
Q

Molecular and
Genomic Approaches (3)

A
  • 16S rRNA sequencing:
  • Metagenomics
  • Transcriptomics and proteomics
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26
Q

Microscopy and
Imaging Techniques (2)

A
  1. Fluorescence
    microscopy ( FISH -
    Fluorescence In Situ
    Hybridization)
  2. Electron microscopy
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27
Q

Used for for ultrastructural studies

A

Electron microscopy

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28
Q

used for tracking nutrient
utilization by specific
microbes

A

Stable Isotope Probing

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29
Q

Applications of
Microbial Ecology (3)

A
  1. Environmental
    Biotechnology
  2. Health and
    Medicine
  3. Industrial
    Application
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30
Q

Environmental
Biotechnologies (3)

A
  1. Bioremediation
  2. Wastewater treatment
  3. Biofertilizers
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31
Q

Is the microbial degradation of pollutants(?)

A

Bioremediation

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32
Q

Role of microbes in sewage
processing

A

Wastewater treatment

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33
Q

Enhances soil fertility with microbial inoculants (?)

A

Biofertilizers

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34
Q

Microbial Industrial Applications (2)

A
  1. Fermentation technology
  2. Synthetic biology
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35
Q

Characterized by microbial production of antibiotics, enzymes, and biofuels

A

Fermentation technology

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36
Q

Characterized by engineering of microbes for new applications

A

Synthetic biology

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37
Q

How does microbial
diversity contribute to
ecosystem resilience? (Familiarize)

A
  1. Enhancing Nutrient Cycling
  2. Promoting Stability in Changing Conditions
  3. Supporting Plant Growth & Soil Health
  4. Regulating Disease & Pathogen Control
  5. Aiding Climate Change Adaptation
  6. Supporting Food Webs & Biodiversity
  7. Assisting in Ecosystem Recovery (Bioremediation)
38
Q

The role of climate
change in altering
microbial communities (Familiarize) (6)

A
  1. Rising Temperatures
  2. Changes in Precipitation Patterns (Droughts & Floods)
  3. Ocean Acidification & Warming
  4. Melting Permafrost & Microbial Greenhouse Gas Release
  5. Disrupting Soil Microbiomes & Agriculture
  6. Shifting Microbial Pathogens & Disease Patterns
39
Q

Both the host and microbe benefit (?)

40
Q

Mutualism:
⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽ , a gut
bacterium, helps digest complex ⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽
from plants, providing nutrients for the host while
receiving a hospitable environment in return.

A

Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; polysaccharides

41
Q

One organism benefits while the other isunaffected

A

Commensalism

42
Q

Commensalism:
⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽
on human skin
prevents colonization by harmful bacteria without
affecting the host.

A

Staphylococcus epidermidis

43
Q

The microbe harms the
host (?)

A

Parasitism (Pathogenicity)

44
Q

Parasitism:
⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽, a bacterium found in the stomach, can cause gastric ulcers and cancer in some individuals .

A

Helicobacter pylori

45
Q

________ train the immune system from infancy, helping it distinguish between pathogens and harmless microbes .

A

Gut microbiota

46
Q

________ produces butyrate, which
reduces gut inflammation and is protective against
________.

A

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; inflammatory bowel diseases
(IBD)

46
Q

Beneficial bacteria produce ________ that regulate immune cell activity and prevent excessive inflammation

A

short- chain fatty acids (SCFAs)

47
Q

Is characterized by microbial imbalance (?)

48
Q

Dysbiosis can lead to? (2)

A
  1. Autoimmune diseases
  2. Allergies
49
Q

Dysbiosis:
Autoimmune diseases examples (2)

A
  1. multiple sclerosis
  2. type 1 diabetes
50
Q

This is due to overactive immune responses .

A

Autoimmune diseases

51
Q

This is due to reduced microbial diversity affecting immune tolerance .

52
Q

Dysbiosis:
Allergies examples (2)

A
  1. asthma
  2. eczema
53
Q

Gut microbiota synthesize essential vitamins (______, _____) and
produce _____ that regulatemetabolism .

A

B vitamins, vitamin K; SCFAs

54
Q

This enhances gut
barrier function and is
linked to lower obesity
risk .

A

Akkermansia muciniphila

55
Q

Dysbiosiscan lead to obesity and type 2 diabetesby altering (3) :

A

– Energy extraction from food.
– Insulin sensitivity via inflammatory pathways.
– Fat storage by modulating hormones like GLP - 1 and leptin

56
Q

GLP-1 causes (familiarize)

A
  1. Increased insulin secretion
  2. Decreased tissue insulin resistance
  3. Increased energy consumption
  4. Increased lipolysis
  5. Decreased gastric emptying
  6. Decreased gastrointestinal motility
  7. Decreased lipid content
  8. Increased sapiety
  9. Decreased appetite
  10. Decreased food intake
57
Q

Leptin causes/helps (familiarize):

A
  1. thyroid hormone synthesis
  2. decreased- glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
  3. Increased heart rate
  4. Regulate bone mass
  5. Regulate menstrual cycle
  6. Regulate appetite, control metabolism, and energy homeostasis
  7. Activation of immune cells
  8. Increased blood pressure
58
Q

_______ connects the microbiome to the nervous
system

A

The gut- brain axis

59
Q

The gut- brain axis connects the microbiome to the nervous
systemvia (3) :

A
  1. Neural signaling
  2. Microbial metabolites
  3. Immuneregulation
60
Q

The gut- brain axis:
Neural signaling:
The ____ transmits gut signals to the brain .

A

vagus nerve

61
Q

The gut- brain axis:
Microbial metabolites : ____ influence neurotransmitter
production .

62
Q

The gut- brain axis:
Immuneregulation:
________ modulate brain inflammation .

A

Gut bacteria

63
Q

Certain ________ and ________ strains
increase serotonin production, reducing depression and anxiety
symptoms .

A

Lactobacillus; Bifidobacterium

64
Q

Dysbiosis is linked to ________, ________,
and ________(e .g ., Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s).

A
  1. autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  2. depression
    3.Neurodegenerative diseases
65
Q

______ (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) is linked to an overgrowth of
pro - inflammatory bacteria(e .g ., _______, ________) .

A

IBD; Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile

66
Q

Reduced levels of ______________ are found in
IBD patients .

A

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

67
Q

Higher levels of these microbes is linked to obesity

A

Firmicutes

68
Q

Higher levels of these microbe is linked to lean individuals.

A

Bacteroidetes

69
Q

______________ is associated with colorectal cancer due to its ability to trigger inflammation and suppress immune responses.

A

Fusobacterium nucleatum

70
Q

_________ microbial exposure in childhood (due to excessive hygiene and antibiotic overuse) is linked to higher allergy rates
(_________)

A

Reduced; hygiene hypothesis

71
Q

_________, plant- based dietspromote gut microbial diversity.

A

High - fiber

72
Q

Mediterranean diet (rich in fiber, polyphenols) boosts
_________ and _________ populations.

A

Lactobacillus; Bifidobacterium

73
Q

Western diets (high in ______, _____, and _______) reduce microbial diversity and increase inflammation.

A

processed foods, sugar, and fat

74
Q

Opportunistic infections is linked to?

A

Clostridioides difficile
overgrowth

75
Q

increased obesity risk in
children is caused by early exposure to?

A

early-life antibiotics

76
Q

______ increases microbial diversity and promotes beneficial
SCFA production.

77
Q

______ reduces microbial diversity and can increase
inflammatory gut bacteria.

A

Chronic stress

78
Q

How do exercise
increases microbial
diversity? (familiarize)

A
  • Enhancing Gut Motility
  • Increasing Short- Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Production
  • Reducing Gut Inflammation
  • Improving Immune Function
  • Enhancing Oxygenation & Blood Flow
  • Modulating Stress Response
  • Influencing Gut- Muscle Axis
79
Q

How do stress reduced
microbial diversity? (familiarize)

A
  • Increased Cortisol & Stress Hormones
  • Increased Gut Permeability (“Leaky Gut”)
  • Reduced Short- Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs )
  • Imbalance Between Beneficial & Harmful Bacteria
  • Slower Digestion & Reduced Gut Motility
  • Changes in Immune Function
  • Poor Sleep & Dietary Habits Due to Stress
80
Q

Live Beneficial Microbes

A

Probiotics

81
Q

Used to restore microbial balance.

A

Probiotics

82
Q

Probiotics common strains (2) :

A

Lactobacillus rhamnosus & Bifidobacterium longum

83
Q

______ use can reduce antibiotic - associated
diarrhea.

84
Q

Fiber That Feeds Beneficial Microbes

A

Prebiotics

85
Q

Prebiotics are found in (4):

A

garlic, onions, bananas, and chicory root.

86
Q

______ a prebiotic fiber, promotes Bifidobacterium
growth.

87
Q

Restores gut microbiota by transplanting stool from a healthy donor

A

Fecal Microbiota
Transplantation (FMT)

88
Q

Highly effective (>90% success) in treating recurrent C. difficile infections.

A

Fecal Microbiota
Transplantation (FMT)

89
Q

Fecal Microbiota
Transplantation (FMT): (Familiarize)

A
  1. Informed Consent & Privacy
  2. Equity & Access to Microbiome - Based Treatments
  3. Environmental and Ecological Risks
  4. Safety & Regulation
  5. Commercialization & Biopiracy
  6. Dual- Use Concerns (Good vs. Harmful Applications)

Special Topics (Last 2 PPTs) (2 decks)

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