Microbiology Intro Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the domains of life

A

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryota

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2
Q

From which group did Eukaryotes develop?

A

Archaea

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3
Q

Give the 4 major groups of human pathogens

And are they eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or non-living

A

Bacteria - prokaryotic

Fungi - eukaryotic

Protozoa - eukaryotic

Viruses - non-living

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4
Q

Name the usual constituents of a bacterial cell

A
Plasma membrane
Cell Wall (Peptidoglycan)
Nucleoid
Ribosomes
Cytoplasm
Capsule
Flagella, Pili, & Fimbriae
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5
Q

Does the nucleoid have a nuclear membrane

A

No

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6
Q

Describe the organisation of DNA in a bacterial cell

A

A single circular chromosome

Plasmids

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7
Q

Describe the basics of how bacterial cells generate energy

A
  • Electrons released from high energy molecules in the cytoplasm
  • Pass through a series of electron acceptors to pump protons across the plasma membrane
  • Generates a proton gradient (-ve inside, +ve outside)
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8
Q

What is pumped across the plasma membrane during bacterial respiration?

What powers this?

A

Protons are pumped across

Energy for this comes from electrons

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9
Q

Describe the structure of peptidoglycan

A

Chains of alternating polysaccharides

These are cross linked by peptide bridges

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10
Q

Give the 2 types of bacterial cell wall

A

Gram +ve

Gram -ve

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11
Q

Give some similarities of both types of bacterial cell wall

A

Both act as a barrier

Both provide structure to prevent cell lysis

Both contain peptidoglycan

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12
Q

Describe a gram +ve cell wall

A

Thick multilayer of peptidoglycan

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13
Q

Where can the cell wall be found in a bacteria?

A

Under the capsule and above the cell membrane

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14
Q

Describe a gram -ve cell wall

A
Thin layer of peptidoglycan
then
Periplasm
then
Outer membrane
then
Lipopolysaccharide
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15
Q

Name the space between the outer and cytoplasmic membranes in gram -ve cells

A

Periplasm

*This is where the peptidoglycan is

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16
Q

Where can lipopolysaccharides be found

And in which type of bacterial cell

A

All over the the external surface of the outer membrane of gram -ve cells

17
Q

Which class of drugs target the peptidoglycan

A

Penicillin

18
Q

What are lipopolysaccharides?

A

Glycolipids

19
Q

What are the roles of lipopolysaccharides?

A
  • Stabilise the outer membrane
  • Helps to protect the cell from toxins
  • Displays antigens
20
Q

What are the roles of lipopolysaccharides?

A
  • Stabilise the outer membrane
  • Helps to protect the cell from toxins
  • Displays antigens
  • Incite a strong inflammatory response
21
Q

What are the subunits of a lipopolysaccharides?

A
  • Lipid
  • Core Polysaccharide
  • O-chain/antigen
22
Q

Which are longer fimbriae or pili?

A

Pili

23
Q

What type of bacterial cell has pili?

A

Gram -ve

24
Q

What type of bacterial cell has fimbriae?

A

Gram +ve and Gram -ve

25
Q

What are the functions of a pilus?

A

Bacterial ‘sex’ (exchange of genetic info)

Adherence to cells and surfaces

26
Q

What is the function of the fimbriae?

A

Adherence to cells and surfaces

27
Q

Why is adherence important for bacterial cells?

A

To form biofilms

28
Q

Why is bacterial protein synthesis a common target for antibiotics?

A

It is different from the process in somatic cells

29
Q

Give this important points of bacterial protein synthesis?

A
  • Very basic post translational modification
  • All occurs in the cytoplasm
  • Co-transcription/translation
  • Bacterial proteins differ from eukaryotic ones
30
Q

Give the phases of bacterial growth curve

A
  • Lag Phase
  • Exponential Phase
  • Stationary Phase
  • Decline Phase
31
Q

Describe the nutrients that bacteria require for growth

A
  • Carbon
  • Oxygen & Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen
  • Inorganic salts (P, S, K, Mg, Ca, Fe)
  • Vitamins
  • Trace elements
32
Q

Name the types of bacteria that are adapted to low, high, and body temps

A

Low temp = Psychrophiles

High temp = Thermophiles

Body temp = Mesophiles

33
Q

Do the majority of bacteria live in a large community or singularly?

A

In large communities