Microbiology Flashcards
How are relationships identified
Evolutionary evidence (fossil records)
Similarity of observable characteristics
genetic similarities and evolutionary relatedness
What are the three domains of life
Bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes
What is the order that domains are broken down in
Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
What are the rules of binomial nomenclature
Genus name is always capitalized, can be abbreviated
Species name is always lower case can not be abbreviated
Always italicised (typescript) or underlined (written text)
What makes up domain eukarya
Microscopic algae, microscopic fungi, protozoa, helminths
What makes up domain archaea
archaeabacteria
What makes domain bacteria
Eubacteria (true bacteria)
what are the problems with algal blooms
turns the tide red. Can be harmless but could cause problems from toxins or accumulated biomass
Describe fungi
Can be multicellular or single cellular yeasts. Some cause mold or disease
What fungi causes black mold on food
Aspergillus niger
Explain how protozoa-1 work
Cyst is injected, converts into trophozoite which can be excreted (Giardia lamblia)
Explain what helminths are and how they work
Protazoa-2 types of worm and nematodes. They are often parasitic and ingestion of eggs causes diseases
What are archaeabacteria
Prokaryotes that are distinguished from domain bacteria. They may be considered ancient organisms and many live in extreme environments
define thermophiles
organisms which grow at extremely high temperatures
Define psychorophiles
organisms that thrive at extremely low temperatures
Define halophiles
organisms which live in conditions of extreme salinities
Describe mathanogens
organisms which live in anaerobic conditions and produce methane
How do archaea distinguish from bacteria
Their ribosomes structure
types and linkages of lipids
Variations in RNA polymerase
Difference in cell wall
Lack of peptidoglycan
What is the difference between gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Gram positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan on the outside of the plasma membrane. Gram negative has a thinner layer and an outer membrane
What are some ways bacteria can gain energy
photoautotrophs gain energy from light
methanotrophs gain energy from methane
chemolithotrophs gain energy from inorganic molecules
chemoorganotrophs gain energy from organic chemicals
What did Anthony van Leeuwenhoek discover
in 1676 he saw animalcules (what we would call microscopic organisms) in a water sample. He made the monocular microscope
What is spontaneous generation and how was it disproven
The belief that living organisms could develop from non-living organisms (maggots from rotting meat, fleas from hair etc.)
Francesco Redi disproved it using a 3 jar experiment
What is Lois Pasteur known for
Pasteurization (aseptic techniques), showing microbes caused fermentation, developed anthrax and rabies vaccine
what is a simple microscope
A microscope with only one lens
What is a compound microscope
microscopes that contain an eyepiece and one or more additional lens. Light is directed onto specimen using condenser lens. Can be monocular or binocular
Why is blue light used in microscopy
has shorter wavelength and can improve resolution
describe the objective lens
Mounted on a rotating head it can provide different magnification
Describe the eyepiece lens
A magnifying lens. Usually x10
How do you calculate total magnification
Objective lens + eyepiece lens
how does immersion oil improve resolution
this is due to oil having the same refractive indices to glass
Describe light field microscopy
Specimens are stained with dyes to improve contrast. This allows visualization of specimens showing size and morphology
Describe dark field microscopy
Allows image contrast but without using a stain which can introduce artifacts. The specimen causes light to scatter and unscattered light is excluded. Lights specimen from sides and backlights it.
Describe phase-contrast microscopy
A beam of light is spit in two passed through the specimen and then reunited to form an image. The specimen which has different refraction index causes phase variation
Describe fluorescence microscopy
An excitation light is shone on a sample which the itself emits a coloured light. Fluorecent dye molecules that attach to parts of specimen. The microscope uses a laser beam to scan on/through the specimen.
Gives a high resolution visualization and quantification of 3D structures
Describe electron microscopy
Electron microscopy can be used to magnify images over 100000 times. Similar to light microscopy but at much higher magnification
Describe scanning microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is beams of electrons that scan surface of the specimen making £D images from the scattered electrons and other particles
Describe transmission microscopy
TEM is beams of electrons emitted into vacuum and focused on specimen. Electrons pass through or are scattered. Scattering visualised
What are the two types of specimen preparation
Wet and hanging drop mounts and fixed mounts
describe Wet and hanging drop mounts
Microscopy specimens are mounted
Wet and hanging drop mounts allows live cells to be examined for motility shape and arrangement
Describe fixed mounts
A specimen fixed onto a slide by gently heating it. Specimen is stained to allow improved visualization
Why do you stain specimens
Most bacterial cells are colourless and detail is hard to see. Provides more contrast. enhances visibility of specimen details
Describe chromophores
chromophores have a ring structure with an unbonded electron which can be positively or negatively charged. They are responsible for giving each dye its characteristic colour
What is cationic dyes
basic dyes with positive charges on chromophore. Bind to nucleic acids many proteins and cell membrane. The most widely used dye
What are examples of cationic dyes
Methylene blue, basic fuchsin, crystal violet
Describe anionic dyes
Acidic dyes with negatively charged chromophore. They bind to positively charged structures
Give some examples of Anionic dyes
Eosin, acid fuchsin
What are differential stains
the use of two or more dyes. These are usually a primary stain and a counter stain.
Describe gram stains
Gram stains distinguish the two classes of bacteria based on cell wall structure. They can be positive or negative. The key feature is peptidoglycan that provides rigidity.
How do you do a gram stain
Cells are fixed and and first treated with crystal violet, the primary stain, before being washed with iodine. Cells are treated with acetone then counterstained with basic fuchsin or safranin
Describe gram positive cells
Cells have a thick layer of peptidoglycan that traps crystal violet. They stay blue/purple
Describe gram negative cells
cells that have a thin layer of peptidoglycan and more easily release the CV-mordant complex. They end up with a pink colour
Describe the features of a typical prokaryotic cell
2-10um in length, intracellular have a plasma membrane, a nucleoid, pili, flagellum and glycocalyx
Describe the bacterial nucleiod
its a single circular chromosome free in cytoplasm. There is no surrounding membrane but genome includes plasmids and extra-chromosomal elements
It complexes with DNA binding proteins
What comprises the bacterial cell envelope
The inner plasma membrane, the cell wall and exterior layers including capsule, polysaccharide or slime
Describe bacterial cytoplasmic membrane
semi-porous, permeable to specific molecules, has a phospholipid bilayer, hydrophilic to outside hydrophobic to inside
How is movement across membranes done in bacterial cells
simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion and active diffusion.
Describe the bacterial cell wall
part of the cell envelope, made of peptidoglycan, determines cell shape, prevents osmotic lysis and is target for some antibiotics as its recognized by host system
What are the differences between gram positive and gram negative peptidoglycan
Gram negative has a more open structure and fewer bonds than gram positive
describe the gram negative outer membrane
unusual and highly complex. It is an asymmetric phospholipid bilayer featuring several surface exposed molecules that play a role in virulence
what is unusual about Mycoplasma
It is pleomorphic meaning it has no cell wall. It is parasitic and requires a host to survive
What is lysozyme
an enzyme produced by eukaryotic cells and hydrolyses peptidoglycan to protect against bacterial infection
What are the three outcomes when bacterial cell wall is punctured/removed
Hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic
define protoplasts
gram positive cells that have lost their cell walln
define spherolasts
gram negative cells that have lost their cell wall
what is the glycocalyx
comprised of glycoproteins and proteoglycans that are secreted onto the cell surface
what are flagella
whip like organelles specialised to allow motility. Common in all 3 types of life
what is an aflagellate bacteria
bacteria lacking flagella (this is typical in cyanobacteria
Define monotrichous
one flagellum protrudes from one end
Define Lophotrichous
several flagella protrude from one end
define amphitrichous
at least one flagellum at each end
Define peritrichous
flagella protrude from all over cell surface
How does the flagellum move the cell
They rotate in one direction (counterclockwise) and the bacterium moves forward.
Rotation in the opposite direction cause the bacterium to tumble and randomly change direction. Switching back to move forward
describe pili
thin protein tubes extending from the cytoplasmic membrane. Not involved in movement. They allow cells to adhere to receptors.
What are endospores
gram positive cells with a differentiated life cycle. They can form endospores a highly resistant structures that allow these bacterial species to withstand hostile condition by undergoing dormancy