Microbiology

Question 1

What are the four types of agents/pathogens?

Answer 1

Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa

Question 2

What are the different types of bacteria?

Answer 2

Cocci (Round-shaped)
Bacilli (Rod-shaped)
Spirillus/Spirilla (Spiral-shaped)
Vibrio (Curve shaped)

Question 3

How do bacteria reproduce?

Answer 3

Through binary fission (asexual reproduction). The cell continues to grow until the cell wall grows through the centre of the cell and creates two new cells

Question 4

How is genetic material transferred between bacteria?

Answer 4

Conjugation, transformation and transduction

Question 5

What forms when bacteria are low on resources? What do they contain?

Answer 5

Spores form containing DNA and enzymes needed for germination

Question 6

What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria? What are facultative anaerobic bacteria?

Answer 6

Aerobic bacteria live in oxygenated environments and anaerobic bacteria live in non-oxygenated environments

Facultative anaerobic bacteria can live in both, but prefer oxygenated environments

Question 7

What are common types of bacterial infections?

Answer 7

Skin, Strep throat and Urinary tract infecitons

Question 8

How do protozoa typically spread?

Answer 8

Contaminated food, water, contact and insect vectors

Question 9

What are common protozoa infections?

Answer 9

Giardia, Malaria, Toxoplasmosis

Question 10

How do fungi reproduce? What is produced when fungi reproduce?

Answer 10

Fungi reproduce via asexual and sexual reproduction, both producing spores in the process

Question 11

What cells are fungi made of?

Answer 11

Hyphae

Question 12

What are some common fungal infections?

Answer 12

Athlete’s foot, Thrush (Candidiasis), Ringworm

Question 13

What are viruses?

Answer 13

Cores of genetic material (DNA/RNA) covered in a protein capsid

Question 14

How do viruses replicate?

Answer 14

Viruses release their DNA/RNA inside the cell, and hijacking the cell’s metabolic processes for replication

Question 15

What are some common viral infections?

Answer 15

Colds, flus, mumps, measles, COVID-19, chicken pox, rubella

Question 16

What is the reservoir in a chain of infection?

Answer 16

A place where microorganisms live and reproduce (e.g. A human)

Question 17

What is the portal of exit in a chain of infection?

Answer 17

Routes by which microorganisms can leave the reservoir (e.g. Upper respiratory tract, GI tract, blood and other bodily fluids)

Question 18

What is the mode of transmission in a chain of infection?

Answer 18

How microorganisms move from reservoir to reservoir (e.g. Airborne/Droplets, Direct contact, Contaminated food/water, Indirect contact, Insect vectors)

Question 19

What is the portal of entry in a chain of infection?

Answer 19

How microorganisms enter the body (Inhalation, Ingestion, Inoculation (through skin), Congenital transmission (Infected mother to foetus via placenta or at birth))

Question 20

What is the susceptible host in a chain of infection?

Answer 20

Who gets infected (The most vulnerable)
Babies and children
The elderly
The unimmunised
The immunocompromised