MICROBIAL Microbiology Flashcards

0
Q

Microbe facts

A

Less than 1% of all living microbes have been discovered
Microbes have diverse and unique metabolic (biochemical) reactions
Microbes have the potential to provide new solutions to old problems

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1
Q

What are Microbes

A

Single celled organisms
Microscopic
Include Bacteria and Archaea
Broadly speaking: fungi, protists

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2
Q

The Human Microbiome

A

Collection of microbes- bacteria, archaea, and fungi that live in/on the human body

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3
Q

Skin

A

Surface and deep layers gastrointestinal tract mucosal regions

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4
Q

Human Microbiome Project

A

90% of cells in our body are microbes

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5
Q

Goal of National Institutes of Health (NIH)

A

Map and sequence healthy human microbiome and normal variation

Establish reference database

10,000 microbial species found

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6
Q

What does The Human Microbiome Project tell us?

A

Essential for life

Help digest food, produce certain vitamins, regulate immune system, protect against disease-causing bacteria

Variation from person to person

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7
Q

Microbial Biotechnology

A

The use of microorganisms for the production of products and for cellular work

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8
Q

Do we exploit microbes?

A

Yes

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9
Q

Microbial Biotechnology Applcations

A

Commercial production of products and biomass (bioreactors): antibiotics, drugs, consumables

Food industry (e.g. Additives)

Biopolymers (e.g. Bioplastics)

Agriculture (e.g. Biopesticides)

Clean up oil spills, radiation leaks, toxic herbicides, and pesticide residues

Oil and metal recovery

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10
Q

Biomass production

A

Process produces LOTS of bacteria and other cells

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11
Q

Product production

A

E.g. Pharmaceuticals, chemicals

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12
Q

Biotransformation

A

Transformation by cells of a substance to produce a commercially valuable product or to detoxify pollutants

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13
Q

Different types of bioreactors

A

Stirred tank reactor

Airlift Fermenter

Solid Stare fermentation

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14
Q

Stirred tank reactor

A

Uses internal mechanical agitation of the culture medium by a series of rotor blades

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15
Q

Airlift Fermenter

A

Cells are aerated and circulated by air mixing with the media. Air centers the column at the bottom of the vessel and rises as bubbles

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16
Q

Solid state fermentation

A

Microorganisms are grown on solid substrates that are not completely submerged in liquid media

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17
Q

Everyday uses of fermentation

A

Vitamins- cereal production, multi vitamins

Enzymes for detergents, e.g. Tide

Alcohol, wine, beer, other fermentation products

Cosmetic additives

Food additives

Pharmaceuticals

18
Q

Single Cell Protein

A

Protein extracted from monoculture of microorganisms grown in large volumes for people, livestock, and fish

Essential amino acids provided in concentrated form

19
Q

Microbes role in food biotechnology

A

Safer, higher quality foods-diagnostic tools
Better tasting, more nutritious
Improved starter cultures for fermentation
Natural flavoring and colorings; spoilage retardants

20
Q

Types of Degradable plastics

A

Compostable, hydro-biodegradable, photo-degradable, Bioerodable

21
Q

T or F: bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics that are commonly used (and misused)

A

T

22
Q

Different ways Antibiotics act:

A

Disrupting the plasma membrane of microbial cells

Inhibiting cell wall synthesis

Inhibiting synthesis of important metabolites such as proteins, nucleic acid, and folic acid

23
Q

How do we produce new antibiotics?

A

Combining antibiotic biosynthetic pathways

Feeding unusual substrates to a microorganism and determine product activity

Mutations

Identifying new organisms that produce new antibiotics

24
Q

Ways microorganisms are a source of biofuels

A

Large amounts of non renewable resources are used daily

Finite quantities of fossil fuels, supplies will run out

Methane

25
Q

Alternative fuel source can be found using what?

A

Microorganisms

26
Q

Methane

A

Produced in swamps and landfills by anaerobic bacteria

27
Q

Biohydrogen

A

Clean energy and water are produced during combustion

28
Q

Obstacles of Biohydrogen

A

Cost of extraction

Combustibility

29
Q

Use of Crop Plants for Biofuels

A

Crops such as corn, sugarcane, rapeseed, palms, soybeans for ethanol and oil production

Use valuable land

Take away from food production

30
Q

Compostable

A

Placed in compost conditions to break down

31
Q

Hydro-biodegradable

A

Break down in the presence of water

32
Q

Photo-biodegradable

A

Decompose when exposed to ultraviolet light/sunlight

33
Q

Bioerodable

A

Break down when placed in the body-used in biomedical implants

34
Q

T or F: complete biodegradation occurs if ALL fragmented plastic residues are consumed by microorganisms and used as energy source

A

T

35
Q

Bioplastics

A

Polymers
Molecules of long chains of carbon backbones
Derived from renewable biomass sources- not petroleum

36
Q

Sources of Biopolymers

A

Plants-soybean, sugarcane, corn, potato

Bacteria, Algae, Fungi: polymers are sugar-like repeating units-food and energy sources

37
Q

Metabolic flexibility of microorganisms allows…

A

The synthesis of bioplastics

38
Q

Poly-PHA

A

Energy source and carbon storage 30%-80% dry weight of cell

39
Q

Commercially produced biopolymers from plants:

A

Polylactic acid from field corn used to produce packaging, clothing, and bedding

Corn sugar polymer, sorona, used in clothing

40
Q

Bioremediation

A

Reclaiming or cleaning up contaminated sites using organisms to remove or degrade toxic waste

41
Q

Two methods of bioremediation:

A

Encourage bacterial growth with nutrients

Addition of new bacteria with new functions

42
Q

Example of bioremediation

A

Wastewater treatment

43
Q

Biomining

A

Mining at extremely high temperatures