Microbiology - The Nature of Infection Flashcards
Why is infection important?
Increased antibiotic resistance. Practising doctors treat infection on a daily basis.
What are the three domains of life?
Bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes.
What does AMR stand for?
Antimicrobial resistance.
What are the major groups of human pathogens?
Protozoa, fungi, bacteria and viruses.
What examples of human pathogens are eukaryotes?
Protozoa and fungi.
What examples of human pathogens are prokaryotes?
Bacteria.
What are viruses?
Non - living small obligate parasites.
What are protozoa?
Single celled animals.
What are fungi?
Higher plant like organisms.
What are bacteria?
Small, single celled prokaryotes.
What are the characteristics of eukaryotes?
Compartmental, linear chromosomes, 80S ribosomes, no/flexible cell wall.
What are the characteristics of prokaryotes?
Simple, single circular chromosome, 70S ribosomes, rigid cell walls and rapid cell cycle.
What is a nucleoid?
Contains DNA and proteins and has no nuclear membrane.
What does the inflow of protons allow the cytoplasmic membrane do?
Generate energy by the production of ATP.
What is the main component that makes up the cell wall?
Peptidoglycan.
What are the two types of cell walls?
Gram Positive and Gram Negative.
What type of cell wall does Penicillin target?
Gram +ve and Gram -ve.
What makes up Gram +ve?
Thick multi-layer PG.
What makes up Gram -ve?
Outer membrane, periplasm and a thinner PG layer.
What does LPS stand for?
Lipopolysaccharide.
Where are LPS molecules situated in cell walls?
On the outer membrane in a Gram -ve, makes the outer membrane asymmetric.
What cell wall does fimbriae have?
Gram +ve.
What cell wall does pilus have?
Gram -ve.
What happens during prokaryotic protein synthesis simply?
Make distinct proteins with co-transcription and is a target for antibiotics.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the cytoplasmic or PM?
Can use sonication and ethanol to target it.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the cell wall?
Can use penicillin and glycopeptides to target it.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the outer membrane and LPS?
Antibiotic uptake and inflammation.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the Chromosome?
Gyrases antibiotic target.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the ribosome?
Protein synthesis inhibitors.
What is the significance for understanding infection control for the pili, fimbriae and flagella?
Attachment, motility, invasion, sex and pathology.
What food do prokaryotes need to grow?
Organic/inorganic C source, O H and N source, vitamins and trace elements e.g. Zn.
What conditions do prokaryotes need to grow?
The optimal temperature e.g. mesophiles need body temp.
H ion conc. e.g. Human commensals pH 6.8-7.2.
Osmotic protection. e.g. Human commensals 0.85% NaCl.
O2 e.g. aerobes, microaerophiles, facultative and obligate anaerobes.
What are the 4 phases of the bacterial growth curve?
Lag phase
Exponential phase
Stationary phase
Decline phase
