Microbiology Flashcards
Functions of bacterial cell wall
- Resist osmotic stress
- primer for own synthesis
- shape
- Protection
Encapsulated bacteria
Strep pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae H. influenzae N. meningitidis Salmonella Group B strep
Bacterial capsules
Composed of glycocalyx (except b. anthracis)
Gram positive bacteria
Thick cell wall with lots of PG. Assoc with techoic and lipoteichoic acids
Gram negative bacteria
Thin PG layer and outer membrane. LPS.
Phases of bacterial growth
Lag, Log, Stationary, Decline
Obligate aerobes
Require O2. Nocardia, pseudomonas, mycobacterium tuberculosis, bacillus. (“Nagging pests must breathe”)
Obligate anaerobes
Cannot grow in presence of O2. Clostridium, bacteroides, actinomyces. (“Can’t breathe air”)
Microaerophilic
Requires very little levels of O2 for growth
Conjugation
One-way transfer of DNA from a donor cell to a recipient cell through sex (F) pilus. Donor bacterium must carry F plasmid (F+, male) and other must not (F-, female)
Spores
Dehydrated, multicelled structure that allows bacteria to survive when nutrients are limited. Only autoclaving will kill. Only certain gram positive rods can form spores.
Transformation
Bacteria take up fragments of naked DNA and incorporate them into their genomes if recipient is sufficiently homologous for recomb to occur
Transduction
Genetic transfer mediated by bacteriophages
Pigment producing bacteria
S aureus (yellow) P aeruginosa (blue-green) Serratia marcescens (red)
Bacteria that carry IgA proteases
S pneumoniae
N meningitidis
N gonorrhoeae
H influenzae
alpha hemolysis
Green darkening of blood agar. S pneumoniae, viridans strep
beta-hemolysis
Complete clearing of blood agar. S pyogenes, agalactiae, aureus. Listeria.
Gamma-hemolysis
no hemolysis. Enterococcus
Endotoxin
LPS. Outer cell membrane of gram neg bacteria. Can cause fever and shock
Exotoxin
Polypep secreted by bacteria that harm host by altering cellular structure or fn. Very potent and potentially lethal.
Enterotoxins
Act on gut.
Bacteria not amenable to Gram staining
Mycobacteria. mycoplasma, rickettsia, chlamydia, treponema, legionella
MacConkey agar
Inhibits Gram+. Lactose fermenters: red. Non-lactose fermenters: white.
Chocolate agar
Good for H influenzae. Contains X, V factors.