Midterm 1 Flashcards
Microbiology
Is the study of microorganisms
Microorganism
A microscopic organism consisting of a single cell or cell cluster, including the viruses
Includes bacteria, fungi, protozoa and microscopic algae
Take up 60% of the earths biomass
How to get rid of microorganisms
If you really want to get rid of them, think of, what can you deprive them of
Bacteriology
The study of bacteria
Mycology
The study of fungi
Parasitology
The study of protozoa and parasitic worms
Virology
The study of viruses
Immunology
The study of immunity and the immune system
You have to have bacteria to keep your immune system prime
Three domain systems
Carl Woese created the three domain system in 1978
Bacteria - Cell walls contain peptidoglycan (average bacterial cell 0.2-2.0 um x 2-8 um)
Archaea - Cell walls when present lack peptidoglycan
Eukarya - includes protists, fungi, plants and animals.
Prokaryotes
- Bacteria and Archaea
- Unicellular microorganisms
- Have a cytoplasmic membrane
- No nucleus to contain their DNA
- Free-floating DNA
- No membrane bound organelles
- They have a nucleoid (pre nucleus ) and it is tightly wound and not enclosed in a membrane.
Characteristics of Prokaryotes
- DNA is not enclosed in a membrane: one circular chromosome.
- DNA is not associated with histones.
- Lack membrane bound organelles.
- Cell walls are complex; contain peptidoglycan.
- Typically divide by the process of binary fission
Pleomorphic
“shape-shifter”, having many shapes
Fixation
- Kills the cell
- Solidifies cell
- Avoids creation of artifacts
Staining
- Increases visibility
- Increases difference in refractive index.
- Emphasizes cell differences through light absorption.
Mordant
- Creates or increases affinity between dye and cell or cell structure.
- May change cell permeability.
- May hasten reaction between cell substrate and dye.
- May be applied prior to staining or incorporated in fixing or staining solution.
Decolorization
- Tests degree of attachment of dye to cell substrate
- Differential staining
Counter stain
- Emphasizes difference between cells that retained primary (original) stain and decolorized cells.
- Must not replace original stain.
Simple stain
- Aqueous or alcohol solution of a single basic dye.
- Highlights entire microorganism to visualize basic cell structure and shape.
Differential stain
React differently with different kinds of bacteria.
(gram-stain and acid fact stain)
Gram stain
- Primary stain applied to heat-fixed smear.
- Rinse primary stain, apply iodine mordant, rinse.
- Decolorize to remove primary stain
- Counterstain with basic red dye
Gram-positive cell wall
- Typically contain several layers of peptidoglycan; layer
- Contain teichoic acid
- Purple when stained
Gram-negative cell wall
- Contain few layers of peptidoglycan but include an outer membrane; peptidoglycan insides the outer membrane is situated in the periplasm.
- Periplasm contains high concentrations of degradative enzymes and transport proteins
- Pink when stained
- They contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Acid fast stain
Binds only to bacteria with a waxy cell wall
Negative stain
- In negative staining, the results yield a clear cell with a dark background.
- Used for capsule staining
- Colloidal suspension of India ink or nigrosin provides dark background.
Endospore stain
- Schaeffer-Fulton endospore stain.
- Primary stain is steam heated for 5 minutes.
- After rinsing, safranin applied as a counterstain.
Synthetic reactions
A chemical process in which two or more simple elements or compounds combine to form a more complex product
Decomposition reactions
A complex compound breaks down into two or more simpler compounds
Exchange reactions
A chemical reaction in which both synthesis and decomposition occur
Endergonic reaction
A reaction that requires energy to be absorbed in order for it to take place.
Absorbs more energy than it releases.
Exergonic reaction
Chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat
Releases more energy than it absorbs or requires.
Water
- Best solvent
- Average microbial cell contains 70% water.
- Acts as a good temperature buffer and offers protection to microbial cells against fluctuations in environmental conditions.
pH
Most microorganisms grow best in pH ranges near neutrality
Acidophile
Bacterium which grows below pH 4.0
Alkaliphile
Organism growing best at high pH 7.0
Carbs
- Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and perform major functions in living systems including cell wall structure in bacterial cell
- Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides
- Basic building blocks of life
Phospholipids
- Consist of glycerol, two fatty acids and a phosphate group.
- Specific building blocks of biological membranes.
- Both polar (hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) ends.
0 Primary barrier between cells and the environment
Proteins
- Function as enzymes (help speed up reactions)
- Made of amino acids
- Protein denaturation can occur in response to unfavorable conditions of temp, pH, or salt concentrations
ATP
- Principle energy carrying molecule of all cells
- Consists of an adenosine unit with three phosphate groups attached
- Considered a high energy material
All 6 Characteristics of living things
- Metabolism
Uptake of nutrients from the environment, their transformation within the cell, and elimination of wastes into the environment. The cell is thus an open system. - Reproduction (growth)
Chemicals from the environment are turned into new cells under the direction of preexisting cells. - Differentiation
Formation of a new cell structure such as a spore, usually as part of a cellular life cycle. - Communication
Cells communicate of interact primarily by means of chemicals that are released or taken up. - Movement
Living organisms are often capable of self-propulsion. - Evolution
Cells contain genes and evolve to display new biological properties. Phylogenetic trees show the evolutionary relationships between cells
Anything that’s living should be capable of all these things.