Microbiology - Bacteria Flashcards
Enumerate the 4 steps in Gram-staining
- Crystal violet dye application
- Iodine fixation
- Wash w/ 95% alcohol
- Safranin dye application
Basic molecular structure of peptidoglycan
repeating units of a disaccaride with 4 amino acid chains
What is transpeptidase?
Enzyme that links peptidoglycan sub-units, thus forming the bacterial cell wall
Major component of the bacterial cell wall
Peptidoglycan
Describe the action of penicillin and lysozyme against the bacterial cell wall
Penicillin binds to transpeptidase (also called penicillin-binding protein) and disrupts formation of the peptidoglycan cell wall
2 major layers of Gram-positive bacterial envelope
- inner cytoplasmic membrane
2. peptidoglycan cell wall
4 major layers of Gram-negative bacterial envelope
- inner cytoplasmic membrane
- periplasmic space
- peptidoglycan cell wall
- outer membrane w/ lipopolysaccharide
Contents of the periplasmic space?
Bacterial enzymes
Beta lactamases
Differentiate the structure of the inner membrane and the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria
Inner membrane: phospholipid bilayer w/ proteins
Outer membrane
outer leaflet: Lipopolysaccharide
inner leaflet: phospholipid layer w/ proteins
What is teichoic acid?
Polysaccharide Unique component of Gram-positive peptidoglycan layer Antigenic determinant (for serologic identification)
What is murein lipoprotein?
Helical lipoprotein
Anchors outer membrane to the peptidoglycan layer
3 components of bacterial Lipopolysaccharide
- Outer Oligosaccharide chains
- Core polysaccharide chain
- Lipid A (endotoxin)
What are porins?
proteins allowing passage of nutrients through the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria
Not present in Gram-positive bacteria
Explain how gram-negative bacteria are more resistant to penicillin and lysozyme despite having a thinner peptidoglycan layer
Penicillin and Lysozyme are unable to penetrate the gram-negative outer membrane
Major genera of pathologic Gram-positive bacteria
- Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus
- Enterococcus
- Bacillus
- Clostridium
- Corynebacterium
- Listeria
- Mycobacterium
- Actinomyces
- Nocardia
Gram-positive cocci
Streptococcus
Staphylococcus
Enterococcus
Gram-positive rods
Bacillus
Clostridium
Corynebacterium
Listeria
Spore-forming gram-positive bacteria
Bacillus
Clostridium
Non spore-forming gram-positive bacteria
Corynebacterium
Listeria
Gram-negative cocci
Neisseria
Moraxella
Gram-negative spirochetes
Treponema
Borrelia
Leptospira
What are periplasmic flagella?
Flagella located under the outer membrane of spirochetes, which allow them to spin around and thrust forward