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PHA112 > Microbiology > Flashcards

Microbiology Flashcards

1
Q

what is the definition of taxonomy?

A

define systems by shared characteristic

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2
Q

what is the definition of classification?

A

arrange organisms into groups

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3
Q

what is nomenclature?

A

assigning names

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4
Q

what are the 3 cellular biological entities?

A

eukarya, archaea, bacteria

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5
Q

what are the 4 acellular biological entities?

A

viruses, viroids, virusoids, prions

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6
Q

what is the order of taxonomic ranks?

A 
domain
phylum
class
order
family
subfamily
genus
species
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7
Q

what is a the definition of species?

A

a group of living organisms capable of interbreeding even if geographically isolated

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8
Q

what is the definition of a species in microbiology?

A

collection of strains that share stable properties but differ significantly from other groups of strains

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9
Q

what is the definition of a strain?

A

a genetic variant or subtype of a bacterial species that varies slightly from other members of the same species

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10
Q

what is the definition of phenotype?

A

an organisms observable characteristics or traits

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11
Q

what is the definition of serotype

A

distinct variations in cell surface antigens within a species

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12
Q

what is the definition of genotype?

A

the part of the genetic makeup of a cell, which determines one of its characteristics

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13
Q

in terms of nucleic acid sequencing, why are 16s rRNA used?

A
  • used in phylogenetics due to slow rate of evolution

- can also be used in diagnosis

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14
Q

what is vertical gene transmission?

A

passage of genetic information from parent to offspring

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15
Q

what is horizontal gene transmission?

A

the acquisition of genetic information by transfer from an organism that is not its parent

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16
Q

what is whole genome sequencing?

A

determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism at a single time

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17
Q

how can you characterise using the whole genome sequence? (4)

A
  • presence/absence of genes
  • gene mutations
  • gene insertions/deletions
  • phylogenetics
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18
Q

what is the definition of phylogenetics?

A

the study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities (within species)

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19
Q

what is the function of phylogenetic trees?

A

visualise evolutionary relationships between organisms

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20
Q

why do bacterial cells adapt more readily to environmental changes than eukaryotic cells?

A

they have the ability to metabolise wider range of substrates

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21
Q

what is peptidoglycan? what is its function?

A

a polymer of sugar and amino acids that lets particles less than 2nm through in both gram positive and gram negative membranes

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22
Q

what is the plasma membrane in a bacterial cell made up of? (3)

A

lipid bilayer, proteins, lipopolysaccharide (gram neg)

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23
Q

is there sterols in the lipid bilayer of a bacterial cell?

A

no

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24
Q

what are the two main types of proteins in the membrane of a bacterial cell?

A

integral and peripheral

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25
Q

what are some features of integral membrane proteins? (3)

A
  • makes up 75% of the membrane proteins
  • tightly attached or stretched across the lipid bilayer
  • ion transport
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26
Q

what are some features of peripheral membrane proteins?

A
  • makes up 25% of the membrane proteins
  • aqueous solubility
  • cholesterol oxidases
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27
Q

what are lipopolysaccharides?

A

they contribute to the structural integrity of bacterial cells

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28
Q

what are the 3 domains in a lipopolysaccharide?

A
  • O antigen
  • core antigen
  • lipid A
29
Q

what is the function of the flagella?

A

motility

30
Q

different positioning terms of flagella: (4)

A

monotrichous- 1 on 1 end
lophtrichous- a few on one end
amphitrichous- one on each end
peritrichous- lots coming out all over cell

31
Q

what are the flagella powered by?

A

H+ flow

32
Q

on what type of bacteria are pilli found?

A

gram negative

33
Q

what are the two types of pilli on bacteria and what are their functions?

A
  • conjugative pilli: allow transfer of DNA between two bacteria
  • type IV pilli: can generate twitching motility
34
Q

what is the capsule and slime layer usually comprised of?

A

polysaccharides

35
Q

if organised and permanent (bacterial cell components)

A

capsule

36
Q

if loosely formed (bacterial cell components)

A

slime layer

37
Q

what is the nucleoid?

A

the main component of bacterial genetic material

38
Q

what are some features of the nucleoid? (3)

A
  • not membrane bound
  • single chromosome of double stranded DNA
  • DNA highly coiled
39
Q

what is a plasmid?

A

extrachromosomal pieces of DNA in bacterial cells

40
Q

what are some features of plasmids? (2)

A
  • can be transferred between cells

- often only contain non-essential genes e.g. antibiotic resistance

41
Q

what is the function of a ribosome in bacterial cells?

A

they are a target for antibiotics

42
Q

what does a rooted phylogenetic tree show?

A

each node is based upon inferred most recent ancestor

43
Q

what does an unrooted phylogenetic tree show?

A

only how each leaf relates to others (no inference on ancestry)

44
Q

what are the features of a category 1 organism? what can you do to prevent harm? (e.g E. coli)

A
  • pose minimal levels of threat
  • generally non-pathogenic
  • wash hands and sterilise all equipment before and after use
45
Q

what are the features of a category 2 organism? what can you do to prevent harm? (e.g staphylococcus aureus)

A
  • can cause human disease and may be hazardous to environment
  • unlikely to spread through the local population
  • only handled by trained professionals
  • perform in biosafety cabinets
46
Q

what are the features of a category 3 organism? what can you do to prevent harm? (rabies virus)

A
  • can cause severe human disease and may be severity hazardous to environment
  • can travel through local population
  • highly regulated
  • trained and vaccinated professionals
  • under negative air pressure
47
Q

what are the features of a category 4 organism? what can be done to prevent harm? (e.g Ebola virus)

A
  • causes severe human disease and usually death
  • high risk of spread through local population
  • no effective vaccination available
  • highly trained personnel
48
Q

what are the two ways to culture microorganisms?

A
  • liquid media (broth)

- solid media (agar plates)

49
Q

how do microorganisms grow in liquid media?

A

they grow as individual cells until available nutrients are exhausted, producing a suspension of cells

50
Q

how do microorganisms grow on solid media?

A

bacteria and fungi form colonies with distinctive appearances, each colony deriving from a single cell

51
Q

what is an undefined media?

A

it contains chemically undefined yeast/vegetable/meat extracts and digested proteins. it varies from batch to batch

52
Q

what is a defined media?

A

all components are chemically defined and highly reproducible

53
Q

name 3 methods that can be used for anaerobic cultures

A
  • anaerobic cabinet
  • GasPak sachets
  • Candle extinction
54
Q

give some features of an anaerobic cabinet (3)

A
  • big insulator cabinet
  • 95% N2 5% H2 with a palladium catalyst
  • can be under positive pressure
55
Q

how do GasPak sachets work?

A

produces CO2 and H2 from breakdown of citric acid, cobalt chloride and sodium borohydride

56
Q

how does candle extinction work?

A

uses up oxygen by burning a candle in a jar

57
Q

how do bacterial cells reproduce?

A

binary fission

58
Q

what are some features off primary metabolism? (4)

A
  • includes major metallic pathways
  • energy production and release
  • cell component synthesis
  • enzyme production
59
Q

what are some features of secondary metabolism? (3)

A
  • non-essential metabolic pathways
  • includes production of natural products e.g antibiotics
  • production of secondary metabolites in disease states which can increase pathogenicity e.g pyocyanin
60
Q

name 6 important criteria required when bulk culturing microorganisms

A
  • maintain adequate mixing
  • maintain high oxygen levels (aerobic)
  • control pH
  • control temp
  • control foam
  • initial starting concentration
61
Q

what is evolution?

A

changes in population overtime

62
Q

give two reasons why evolution might occur

A
  • acquisition of new genes

- mutation of existing genes

63
Q

what is the definition of a mutation?

A

a permanent change in a single cell, does not necessarily cause any noticeable change or get passed on.

64
Q

why may a mutation not get passed on? (3)

A
  • UV irradiation
  • chemical exposure
  • poor genome copy
65
Q

name the three main mechanisms by which bacteria can evolve

A
  • transformation
  • transduction
  • conjugation
66
Q

what is transformation? (bacterial evolution)

A

direct uptake of DNA through cell membrane

67
Q

what is transduction? (bacterial evolution)

A

introduction of genetic material via a viral vector

68
Q

what is conjugation? (bacterial evolution)

A

the transfer of genetic material between two directly connected bacteria

PHA112 (10 decks)

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